Army Reserve officer who threatened mosque set for hearing
RAEFORD (WTVD) -- A decorated Army Reserve officer who left bacon at a North Carolina mosque and threatened to kill its members is expected to appear in court for the first time since he posted bail last month.
A hearing is scheduled at the Hoke County courthouse for 36-year-old Russell Thomas Langford of Fayetteville on Wednesday morning.
Witnesses say on that on June 9, Langford made death threats to members of the mosque about 20 miles southwest of Fayetteville and later attempted to run over one of its members in his Chevrolet Tahoe.
The incident started in the afternoon when two open packages of bacon were found at one of the entrance doors of the Masjid Al-Madina mosque on Pittman Grove Church Road in Raeford. It was considered an insult, because Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products.
Langford has been charged with ethnic intimidation, assault with a deadly weapon, going armed to the terror of the public, communicating threats, stalking and disorderly conduct.
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Langford posted a $60,000 secured bond for his release the day following the incident and was placed under the control of his commander at Fort Bragg. Langford is assigned to the G3 unit of the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg.
