(CBS DETROIT) – A man from St. Clair Shores aged 55 accused of trying to run them over to electoral canvassers in St. Clair Shores in October was charged with assault and ethnic intimidation.

On Oct. 12, Jason Lynch Lafond allegedly went to a tent in the VFW Bruce Post parking lot on Jefferson Avenue looking for campaign materials for former President Donald Trump. Political campaigns occasionally use the parking lot to distribute materials for both Democratic and Republican candidates.

At that time, volunteers from St. Clair Shores Democratic Club were working on the tent and told Lafond it was a Harris/Walz campaign tent. Lafond allegedly yelled derogatory slurs at the group, including anti-LGBTQ slurs.

Officials say Lafond then told canvassers that when Trump won, he would “exterminate” people like them. He then returned to his vehicle and sped towards the canvassers, who jumped out of the way. Lafond then left the scene.

“He shot his vehicle so fast I legitimately thought I was going to die. I thought this man was going to kill me,” said Melissa Crook, a volunteer at St. Clair Shores Democratic Club. “I still don’t know how he managed to stop his car so quickly because it’s not an electric vehicle, but he did and I’m grateful he did, but I thought that was it and I don’t- i would never see the boyfriend those again.”

Lafond is charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon — a four-year felony — and three counts of ethnic intimidation — a two-year felony.

“This alleged attack was not just an attack on the victims. It was an attack on victims’ rights to express themselves freely and safely, and it impacts our entire community. Acts of violence, bullying or harassment based on someone’s identity do not take place. here they threaten our democracy and the exercise of free speech in a fair and safe election,” said Macomb County District Attorney Peter J. Lucido.

Lafond was arraigned Thursday in the District Court of St. Clair Shores and posted a $50,000 bond. He was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and must wear a GPS tracker.

Lafond is due back in court Nov. 8 for a probable cause hearing.