18 jam yang lalu
A machete-wielding teen was arrested aft waving nan ample leaf successful Democrat voters' faces extracurricular a polling location.
Caleb James Williams, 18, of Neptune Beach, Florida, was seen brandishing nan weapon extracurricular of nan Beaches Branch Library connected Tuesday day astatine voters.
Williams, a registered Republican, and a unit of astir 7 16 and 17-year-olds, antagonized voters holding Harris-Walz signs, Duval County Democratic Party Chair Daniel Henry said.
He was arrested astir 4pm for aggravated battle and improper accumulation of a limb aft allegedly waving nan 18-inch machete at two unnamed women, aged 71 and 54, constabulary said.
During a property convention later that night, Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael J. Key Jr., said Williams and nan group 'immediately began antagonizing the opposing governmental side,' adding 'that was their sole intent to beryllium there.'
Caleb James Williams, 18, of Neptune Beach, Florida , was seen brandishing nan weapon extracurricular of nan Beaches Branch Library connected Tuesday day arsenic Democratic voters
According to police, Williams and nan unidentified teens arrived astatine nan voting location, parked their vehicle, and hopped retired pinch Trump flags successful their hands.
Witnesses said they were besides shouting nan erstwhile president's sanction upon their arrival, New York Post reported.
They 'confronted serene Harris-Walz motion wavers exercising their First Amendment rights,' constabulary said.
The incident quickly escalated to a verbal disturbance arsenic Williams aggressively whipped retired nan knife, Keys said.
The female he allegedly waved nan machete towards past called nan police. They were not harmed.
Authorities later recovered nan leaf successful nan furniture of Williams' motortruck arsenic he stood adjacent to nan vehicle.
Meanwhile, 1 of nan women snapped a photograph of nan 18-year-old approaching her pinch nan weapon, holding it complete his head.
The teenagers that joined Williams were not arrested arsenic they 'did not transverse nan criminal threshold,' Key said.
Williams, a registered Republican arsenic of past year, was arrested for aggravated battle and improper accumulation of a limb aft allegedly waving nan machete astatine 2 unnamed women, aged 71 and 54
The main added that they are not facing charges 'at this point', but nan investigation is ongoing.
The image of Williams holding nan machete and nan limb itself person been taken into evidence.
Though nan room was not evacuated, Williams and his unit caused parking and postulation issues. Police remained astatine nan segment pursuing nan incident.
Key said he was proud of nan department's 'prompt response' to nan incident, but was 'extremely angry' astatine what took place.
'Ensuring everyone’s correct to ballot is crucial, and it will not beryllium impeded upon successful Neptune Beach aliases Duval County,' Keys said.
'This goes measurement beyond expressing state of speech. To opportunity your portion is your First Amendment protected right, but that goes retired nan model nan infinitesimal you raise a machete complete your caput successful a threatening manner.
'To opportunity I'm disturbed is an understatement. I'm huffy that this happened successful Neptune Beach.'
He said his section has 'been successful changeless contact' pinch Duval County Supervisor of Elections, Jerry Holland, to make judge they tin 'ensure nan safety' of nan voting location pinch nan predetermination conscionable 5 days away.
The female he allegedly waved nan 18-inch machete (pictured) toward called nan police. They were not harmed.
Key (pictured) said he was proud of nan department's 'prompt response' to nan incident, but was 'extremely angry' astatine what took place
'It was a safe location to ballot coming earlier this incident, and it will proceed to stay a safe location to vote,' Key added.
'We’re committed to that, and we’re ever committed to looking astatine plans to make it safer.'
Henry assured each citizens to proceed participating 'in civic activities respectfully and lawfully.'
'Violence and intimidation person nary spot successful our antiauthoritarian process. The Duval County Democratic Party stands pinch those who activity to definitive their views peacefully and without fearfulness of reprisal,' he added.
DailyMail.com contacted nan Neptune Beach Police Department and Holland for comment.
Under Florida authorities law, voting intimidation is forbidden and considered a felony.
A national is not allowed to 'directly aliases indirectly usage aliases frighten to usage force, violence, aliases intimidation aliases immoderate maneuver of coercion aliases intimidation to induce aliases compel an individual.'
Voting intimidation comes successful galore forms, including verbal aliases beingness confrontation of voters, nonstop confrontation of questioning of voters, beingness intimidation, and occupying a parking batch of a polling center, among others.
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