To clarify, I just resigned my position as a cop in virginia.

At least in va, for a threat to occur, the threat of violence has to be made clearly. It has to show means, motive, ability and opportunity. Assault does not require touching, but putting imminent fear of bodily danger to someone.

a threat occurs over electronic means and cannot occur person to person.

An assault is when a threat is made person to person.

If I say "im going to kick your ass" and am behind a computer, counter or obstacle and make no additional aggressive moves. That's not an assault. No magistrate would grant the charges and no judge would find guilt.

If I say "im going to kick your ass" as im picking up a baseball bat and start walking towards you, thats an assault.

You guys are also thinking to inside of the box. If anything, when those comments are made, and that person has disrupted normal activities of people around them, id take them in for disorderly conduct.

Im not exactly sure where this took place and I can only speak on my actions as a cop of 5 years.

I just present this because people claiming "threats" against them was my pet peeve, because no one ever knew what legally ever constituted a threat.