NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — An 18-year-old man remained in Duval County jail Wednesday morning after Neptune Beach police said he was antagonizing voters. Caleb Williams appeared before a Duval County judge Wednesday facing charges of aggravated assault on persons 65 years or older and improper exhibition of firearm or dangerous weapon.
His bond was set at $55,000 and he was ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from polling locations with the exception of going to his polling place to vote.
Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Beaches Branch Library, an early voting location in Neptune Beach, police received calls about a man holding a machete. Officers arrived and witnesses pointed out Williams who was standing with a group of males near a truck in the parking lot.
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The group reportedly arrived to protest, displaying Trump flags and one of them holding a Trump sign with a machete, police said. Action News Jax received video of the group showing them holding Trump flags chanting the former president’s name and Williams holding a Trump flag attached to a machete.
A 71-year-old woman told police Williams approached her with the machete raised above his head in an intimidating manner. A 54-year-old woman standing next to her told police she also feared for her safety and snapped a photo of Williams using her phone.
When police approached Williams and the other males at the truck, officers located the 23-inch machete in the truck and arrested Williams.
Neptune Beach police Chief Michael Key said he believed the men were there to intimidate voters.
“I‘m extremely angry at this,” he said. “It’s is one thing to exercise your First Amendment right which we so dearly take as a sacred right, but the moment you move to violence, that goes out the window,” Chief Key said during a news conference Tuesday. “To say I’m disturb is an understatement. I’m mad.”
The Duval County Democratic Party released the following statement on what occurred:
“In response to a violent incident at the Beaches Library Early Voting site, Duval County Democratic Party Chair, Daniel Henry, released the following 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. This troubling act of intimidation was met with a swift response from the Neptune Beach Police Department, who arrived within minutes to assess and de-escalate the situation.
“We commend the Neptune Beach Police for their prompt response, which helped ensure the safety of our community members. Following a thorough investigation, the individual brandishing the machete was arrested and now faces felony charges. We are grateful for the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement officers who worked to maintain the peace and respond to this incident.
“Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process. The Duval County Democratic Party stands with those who seek to express their views peacefully and without fear of reprisal. We urge all citizens to continue engaging in civic activities respectfully and lawfully.
“We remain resolute and focused on our mission to win this election for Vice President Kamala Harris and encourage everyone to vote.”
Dean Black, chair of Duval GOP, released the following statement Wednesday:
“The Republican Party of Duval County thanks law enforcement for swiftly apprehending the individual involved. In an environment of high political tension, where President Trump has survived two assassination attempts and Republican supporters are derided as Nazis and called ‘garbage’ by Joe Biden, we urge calm as we approach the end of this election season.”
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