A Page man was arrested after police say he wrote a threatening Facebook post stating Navajo people should be killed because they were all infected with the new coronavirus.

Officials with the Page Police Department said they were made aware Monday evening of "a volatile Facebook post" that was threatening in nature and directed toward Navajo community members.

The post was believed to be published by 34-year-old Daniel Franzen of Page, police said.

Lt. Larry Jones, spokesman for the Page Police Department, said Frazen urged residents to use lethal force against Navajo people "infected" with coronavirus.

"Danger, danger, if you see these Navajo anywhere, call the police or shoot to kill. These Navajo are 100% infected with the coronavirus and needs to be stopped, lethal force is authorized. Page, Arizona do not need this spreading, stop these people in any way or form."

Franzen's original post contained grammar and spelling errors, Jones said.

Franzen was arrested shortly after and was booked into a Coconino County jail on suspicion of an attempt to incite a terrorist attack, which is a class three felony, the department said.

"The Page Police Department recognizes the alarming nature of this incident and shares the justified concern this behavior has caused the Navajo community and others," department officials wrote in a statement.

"The police department wishes to remind community members that unlawful hate speech, especially that which singles out protected classes (race, religion, gender, etc.), will be aggressively investigated and violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible," the statement continued.

Any threats made toward Franzen, as well as other retaliatory measures, would also be investigated in a similar manner, department officials added.

Jones said he was not aware of any threats made toward Franzen Tuesday afternoon, but he noted the department anticipated people would be upset about the post and, therefore, wanted to curb any potential of future threats or retaliation.

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels.

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