APEX, N.C. — Daniel Swain, a South Carolina man, appeared before a judge on Monday after being arrested last week at a car wash in Apex, North Carolina, on federal charges.
Swain, 40, was taken into custody on April 29 at the Tidal Wave Auto Spa on Lake Pine Drive after an employee at the business reported seeing what appeared to be threatening messages written on the windows of a vehicle. Apex police responded to the scene and, upon investigation, notified the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The SBI’s bomb squad also responded to search the vehicle for possible explosive devices.
Arrest Details and Federal Charges
Swain was initially charged by Apex police with resisting a public officer, possession of methamphetamine, and having a fictitious license plate. According to an affidavit, Swain refused to identify himself to the officers, and they found markers matching the ones used to write the alleged threats on the vehicle.
After his initial court appearance on local charges, the U.S. Secret Service placed a detainer on Swain for federal charges. The threatening message found on the vehicle read, “Headed to WSH to kill the Pres.” Swain later allegedly told law enforcement that the threat was motivated by the perceived wrongful deaths of his father, uncle, and grandfather.
Previous Interactions with Law Enforcement
Swain has a history of interactions with law enforcement. In 2025, he reportedly visited Washington, D.C., to “take action,” though he later clarified that he only intended to legally protest. Swain had also been interviewed by the Secret Service in January 2025 after making a threatening Facebook post and was again under investigation in April 2026 for another post threatening former President Donald Trump.
Court Appearance and Next Steps
During his arraignment on Thursday, April 30, Swain described himself as an unemployed Army veteran and expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “I’m unemployed. I’m a United States Army veteran, third generation, and this is a little ridiculous.”
Swain’s federal charges are being handled by the U.S. Secret Service, while the Wake County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the local charges. Swain has been remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Office and will return to court on May 7 for his next hearing.
The investigation into the threatening messages has been completed by Apex police and forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further review.
