Sheriff investigating rant against Exxon

The Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff’s office has launched a criminal investigation into a Guadalupe, Ariz., radio disc jockey who reportedly encouraged listeners to set fire to Exxon gas pumps during his morning radio show.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said KUPD (97.9 FM) disc jockey John Holmberg spent 22 minutes Jan. 31 in a rant against soaring profits at Exxon Mobil Corp. and high gas prices.

“He said the only way oil companies will respond is to violence,” Arpaio said of the host of the popular “Morning Sickness” radio show. “He told people to throw matches at gas pumps and called for a massive, bloody, fiery coup.”

Some worried Exxon employees told their bosses about the comments, and oil company officials asked Arpaio to investigate Holmberg. A second show disc jockey, Brady Bogen, is also under investigation.

“Employees are concerned they might be killed or injured because of these comments this guy has been making,” Arpaio said. Arpaio said Holmberg told Exxon he was sorry, but company officials took the apology as sarcasm.

Both Holmberg and Bogen are out of town to attend the Super Bowl in Detroit and detectives have not interviewed them.

—The Associated Press