Petaluma Army Veteran Arrested, Charged For Threats Against Military

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma Army veteran was charged by federal authorities last week over threats he allegedly made against multiple military personnel at a San Bernardino army base, a news release issued by U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, reported late last week.

Christian Ernest Beyer was charged with interstate threats after he allegedly posted videos on YouTube of himself threatening to kill certain military members at Fort Irwin Army base.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint on Wednesday, on Oct. 30, Beyer posted a YouTube video – using an account in his own name – in which he threatened to kill specific military personnel at Fort Irwin, the news release said.

Beyer, a former U.S. Army soldier, was stationed at Fort Irwin before being court-martialed in 2021 for assault, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 1, at his father’s Sonoma County residence.

In one of two YouTube videos posted Monday, Oct. 30 on an account with his own name contained threats to "kill specific military personnel at Fort Irwin," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

"I had a great…life and I will…die for what I believe in. If you come to…get me and you have a …uniform on, you’re a[n]…enemy and I will not look at you as anything else. I will…fight you ‘til I take you down," Beyer allegedly said in one of the videos.

According to the news release, Beyer allegedly got into an altercation in Mendocino County with a group of elderly individuals after leaving his car in a neighborhood in which he did not live on Oct. 30. He allegedly "brandished a knife at one of the elderly people, got in his car, drove away, then turned around and sped towards the group, driving his vehicle approximately 13 feet off the street at them."

Beyer then sped away and drove to a parking lot, where local law enforcement confronted him, according to the affidavit. He allegedly got out of his car and fled, leading to a manhunt that ended with his arrest.

Beyer was denied bond in a San Francisco court Thursday.

Federal authorities said the FBI is also investigating the incident as part of its joint terrorism task force.