Spokane man accused of threatening to kill police officer, family

A Spokane man arrested on domestic violence warrants now faces a harassment charge for an expletive-laden tirade in which he allegedly threatened to kill a police officer’s family.

Police arrested Jonathan M. Buttrom, 24, early Sunday morning on two misdemeanor warrants for violating a domestic violence protection order, court documents say. Spokane police Officer Anthony Guzzo took Buttrom to the hospital after Buttrom said he had swallowed drugs and a razor blade.

At the hospital, Buttrom began screaming at Guzzo and threatening to kill him and his family, court documents say. Two other officers witnessed Buttrom yelling threats, including “You choked me! I’ll kill your family! I’ll kill them all,” court documents say.

“We have people call us names and threaten to have our badges all of the time,” said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller. “When it gets personal, when they start threatening … our families, we take those threats very seriously.”

Buttrom has prior felony convictions for drug possession and bail jumping, newspaper records show. He remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.