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HomeLocalTeenager Detained After Wielding Machete at Florida Early Voting Location

Teenager Detained After Wielding Machete at Florida Early Voting Location

 

 

18-year-old taken into custody after brandishing a machete at Florida early voting location


Police in Florida arrested an 18-year-old man after he reportedly waved a machete during a confrontation at an early voting site, highlighting a troubling trend in violence this election season.

 

Caleb James Williams, from Neptune Beach, was arrested on Tuesday, according to announcements from local police. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office records indicate that he faces a felony charge for aggravated assault against someone aged 65 or older, in addition to a misdemeanor for the improper display of a firearm or dangerous weapon.

“This situation goes far beyond merely exercising free speech,” stated Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key Jr. during the announcement of the arrest. “Expressing your opinions is a right protected by the First Amendment, but that right is forfeited the moment you threaten someone with a raised machete.”

As of Wednesday morning, Williams remained in custody, and no attorney information was immediately available.

 

Suspect reportedly affiliated with Trump-supporting group

 

According to Chief Key, Williams, along with seven juvenile males, went to a popular early voting site in Duval County on Tuesday afternoon intending to “protest and provoke those with opposing political views.” The situation escalated when Williams “brandished a machete in a threatening manner” over his head towards two women, aged 71 and 54, which prompted them to contact the authorities out of fear.

 

A local Democratic group, the Duval Dems, stated that Williams was part of a faction carrying Donald Trump flags when they approached a group advocating for Kamala Harris.

 

Local authorities confirmed that the voting location is safe.

The Trump campaign has not yet responded to inquiries from YSL News regarding the incident.

2024 election season characterized by violence

As Election Day approaches, this election season has seen a notable rise in threats of political violence.

A recent survey indicated that nearly one-third of Republicans who support Trump think political violence is justifiable, contrasting with one in four Republicans in general and one in six Americans. Experts have raised alarms about the potential dangers surrounding this election, as it marks the first presidential election since Trump rejected the results of the 2020 election, which has bred skepticism towards the electoral process and incited the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

 

This year has seen Trump endure two assassination attempts. In July, he was shot in the ear by a shooter positioned on a rooftop during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In September, the Secret Service fired upon a suspect who was spotted with a firearm hidden in the bushes at Trump’s golf course.

 

Election officials and public figures have faced many threats this election cycle. Earlier this month, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced legal actions against four individuals stemming from threats:

  • A man in Philadelphia was accused of threatening to “skin” a local party official;
  • An Alabama man faced charges for threatening to kill election officials in Arizona;
  • An individual in Arizona was charged due to shootings directed at a Democratic campaign office;
  • A suspect in California was charged with a courthouse bombing plot.

On Monday, ballot drop boxes were set ablaze in Washington and Oregon, damaging hundreds of ballots in the process.