Criminal charges were filed Tuesday against a Hawthorne man accused of making multiple online threats targeting TikTok’s Culver City headquarters.
Joseph Jay Juant Mayuyo, 33, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of making criminal threats, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
TikTok employees reported receiving a series of online threats through various social media platforms from a suspect identified as Mayuyo, according to a Culver City Police Department statement.
On Friday, Mayuyo allegedly threatened TikTok’s Culver City headquarters again on a social media platform, police said.
Company security evacuated the building out of an abundance of caution, police said.
Detectives and related teams went to Mayuyo’s residence, where he allegedly threatened online that he would not be taken alive if an arrest was attempted, police said. Detectives obtained arrest and search warrants.
At 10:10 p.m. Friday, crisis negotiators initiated contact with Mayuyo, police said. After more than 90 minutes, Mayuyo came out of his residence and was taken into custody without further incident.
Mayuyo has remained behind bars since his arrest shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, jail records show.
Police said they served a search warrant at Mayuyo’s residence and recovered items of evidentiary value.
“This incident demonstrates our department’s strong commitment to ensuring the safety of our community and local businesses,” Culver City Police Department Chief Jason Sims said. “We take all threats seriously and investigate them thoroughly.”
Mayuyo is due back at the Airport Courthouse Oct. 21, according to the District Attorney’s Office.