An 18-year-old from Florida was arrested after swinging a machete at two women outside a polling station. The police chief emphasized that he was “furious that this happened” and stressed that obstructing voting in the presidential elections would not be tolerated.
Police in Neptune Beach, Florida, said an 18-year-old man was arrested Tuesday for swinging a machete at two women outside a polling station. Chief Michael Key Jr. reported that Caleb James Williams, while at the premises, during an interaction with two women, aged 54 and 71, raised a machete over his head and brandished it “in an aggressive and threatening manner.”
The 18-year-old was arrested
According to the policeman, the 18-year-old was in the company of six minors who appeared in front of the polling station to “protest and antagonize the opposing political side.” Williams was arrested. He was charged with inappropriate use of a dangerous weapon and assault on a person over 65 years of age.
It is unclear whether any of the people with him were also detained, but an investigation has been launched. On Wednesday, Williams appeared in court, where, among other things, he was banned from approaching polling stations within 300 meters, unless to vote.
“The group was there for one reason, with bad intentions, to cause trouble,” Key stressed. In one of the photos published by the police, the 18-year-old can be seen smiling and holding a machete up.
Key emphasized that “voting in our country is one of the most sacred and protected rights we have” and “ensuring everyone's right to vote is crucial, and that will not be hindered in Neptune Beach or Duval County.” “I'm furious that this happened in Neptune Beach,” the police chief said.
In a statement, Daniel Henry, chairman of the Duval County Democratic Party, said that at the time of the incident, the young men were carrying flags with the image of Donald Trump and their actions were aimed at people with signs of support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. “There is no place for violence and intimidation in the democratic process,” he emphasized.
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Reuters, ABC News, tvn24.pl
Main photo source: Neptune Beach Police Department/Facebook