Machete-wielding teen arrested after group accused of intimidating Democratic supporters at Florida polling station, police say
By: Yahoo News
Machete-wielding teen arrested after group accused of intimidating Democratic supporters at Florida polling station, police say
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Patrick SmithUpdated Wed, October 30, 2024 at 2:21 PM UTC2 min read
Police arrested an 18-year-old wielding a machete with an 18-inch blade outside a polling station in Florida on Tuesday, who was part of a group of teenagers accused of intimidating Democratic supporters.
The teenager, Caleb James Williams, was arrested after 4 p.m. when officers were called to the Beaches Branch Library in Neptune Beach.
Williams was arrested on charges of aggravated assault for allegedly brandishing his weapon at two unidentified women, ages 71 and 54, and improper exhibition of a weapon, Neptune Beach Police Department said.
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The local Democratic campaign said it was "deeply concerned" about the Tuesday's events, in which it said a group of young men waving signs supporting former President Donald Trump confronted a group holding signs promoting Kamala Harris.
Police Chief Michael J. Key Jr. told a news conference Tuesday night that officers found a group of eight, including seven juveniles and one adult, in the library's parking lot.
"The investigation revealed that the group arrived to protest and antagonize the opposing political side," he said.
The group approached opposing sign-wavers and an argument developed between the two sides, before Williams "brandished a machete in an aggressive, threatening posture over his head," Key said, adding that the department has released an image of this moment.
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"The group was there for no other reason but for ill intentions, to cause a disturbance, " Key continued.
Key added that the incident was a clear case of actions going beyond what is allowed by free speech laws.
"This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech — to say your piece is First Amendment-protected right but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner," he said.
Key said there were no plans to arrest or charge any of the other members of the group as their actions didn't "cross the criminal threshold," but he stressed that an investigation is ongoing.
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Duval County Democratic Party Chair, Daniel Henry commended the police for a swift response.
He said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned about a violent incident today at the Beaches Library, where a group of young men carrying Trump flags, with one individual armed with a machete, confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign-wavers exercising their First Amendment rights."
Police have sought to assure people that the polling station and other sites in the county remain safe for voters.
Duval GOP did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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"This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech — to say your piece is First Amendment-protected right but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner," he said.
Key said there were no plans to arrest or charge any of the other members of the group as their actions didn't "cross the criminal threshold," but he stressed that an investigation is ongoing.
Duval County Democratic Party Chair, Daniel Henry commended the police for a swift response.
He said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned about a violent incident today at the Beaches Library, where a group of young men carrying Trump flags, with one individual armed with a machete, confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign-wavers exercising their First Amendment rights."
Police have sought to assure people that the polling station and other sites in the county remain safe for voters.
oh look, another maga folk hero. that's probably the closest any member of his family has ever been to a library ...
The Rittenhouse legal team is in rout…
they can pick up jay suckaload and the axis defending freedom on the way ...
In an article John Russell posted about someone named Brendon Tilley - I think is the incel's name, he looks a lot like the killer Rittenhouse only with a beard and moustache to cover his probably serial killer looking face.
Just add that to the burning and stealing of ballot boxes and whatever other dirty tricks being pulled by those so desperate to support their convicted criminal leader.
Future Trump political appointees.
trumpster youth corp ...
MAGA
Lock him up!!...
They did.
fuck him up!!...
I'm surprised someone didn't.
It's the 'right' that resorts to threats and violence and terrorizing people with a machete and punching them in the face, like the trump cultster who did so in Texass to a poll worker
Okay, but regardless of 'right ot left', those that resort to threats and violence and terrorizing people should be locked up right?
Someone isn't getting enough attention on their not funny 'satire' 'articles'
Yes, they should. It doesn't matter who they are
Yes.
That's because they're too busy sharpening their blades.
... and recruiting dumb ass maga 18 year olds to commit felonies that can follow them around the rest of their lives ...
JFC - intimidating and threatening and menacing - I see in his future - date rapes probably in his past.
I'm sure mommy and daddy quickly bailed him out to protect their investment in his dental work.
I read that the sheriff's office said he is being held in a pretrial detention facility pending a hearing on Wednesday. So, he's not going anywhere for a while.
That's good - so he can't terrorize anyone else before the election is over.
uh oh, not a lot of maga in the county lockup I reckon ...
Does that blade look sharp to you? It looks rusty
he's probably got an autographed maga hat being sent to him for his sacrifice ...
The brain dead idiot holding the blade doesn't look too sharp either.
that automatically puts him on the trump presidential pardon list ...
Frickin dumb ass, this is Florida kid, most everyone carries he or the bunch of them are lucky they didn’t their empty heads blown off.
Meta cleaned up @1.2
LOL, kill joy ...