Oklahoma Couple Held For FBI After Making Threats

Wednesday, June 22nd 2016, 11:23 am

By: News On 6

A Nicut, Oklahoma couple that is being held for the FBI at the Washington County Detention Center was on the federal agency's radar for months, according to the Sequoyah County sheriff.

"We were contacted back in November by an FBI agents out of Chicago," Sheriff Ron Lockhart said Tuesday (June 21). "He asked us to check on [Alan Crawford's] welfare because he was making some radical posts on a website."

The website Lockhart is referring to belonged to a white supremacists group in Adair County, KFSM 5News reports.

"They kicked [Alan Crawford] out, so I think Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Crawford are just a little confused now and do not know what they want to be," Lockhart said.

Authorities have said both Alan and Daphne Crawford converted to Islam as well.

In December, the couple was escorted from Central Mall in Fort Smith after being accused of videotaping entrances. In an interview with 5NEWS after the incident, the Crawfords said they were being targeted because of their religion.

They were not arrested or charged in relation to that incident, but now Alan and Daphne Crawford are being held without bond for the FBI. The couple also faces charges locally after incidents of terroristic threatening in Washington and Sebastian Counties, according to authorities.

Alan Crawford is accused of threatening a car salesman in Fort Smith and Daphne Crawford is accused of threatening a waitress at a Prairie Grove restaurant, court records show. Both were arrested June 16 and released on bond.

The Crawfords were eating at a diner in Prairie Grove in May when Alan Crawford became frustrated with the waitress. His wife reportedly told the waitress, "People like you are the reason we kill," according to KFSM.

Lockhart said the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office, along with the FBI, searched the Crawfords' home in Nicut on June 17 where they found 14 firearms and books on how to pray to Muhammad. Authorities also found several rounds of ammunition. The same day, the Fayetteville Police Department searched the room the Crawfords were renting at the Value Place. Police said they found 10 firearms and several rounds of ammunition there as well.

"Mr. Crawford, he likes publicity," Lockhart said. "But I do not think he likes the publicity he is getting now."

According to Fayetteville police, the couple ran from officers Friday night. They were taken into custody Saturday morning near Academy Sports + Outdoors, police said.

In addition to the terroristic threatening charges, both Alan and Daphne Crawford are facing charges of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of a controlled substance, court records show.

The FBI is not releasing information about the Crawfords arrest.

"[Alan Crawford] has a love for weapons, but he has to understand, if he is going to make threats, he is not going to have weapons," Lockhart said. "I do not know if it is just stupidity on his part, but things are changing. Things are different these days and if you are making threats, you are going to pay the consequences."