Caleb James Williams: in Florida, a man with a machete was arrested for intimidation of voters at the polling station

An 18-year-old boy was arrested outside a polling place in Florida on Tuesday after police said he was wielding a machete to intimidate voters.

Caleb James Williams was charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and improper display of a firearm or dangerous weapon.

At a news conference after the arrest, Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael J. Key said Williams “swinged the machete in an aggressive, threatening position over the head” of the two women, ages 71 and 54.

Williams was accompanied by seven other teenagers, ages 16 and 17, who police said had come to the Beaches Branch library to “protest and confront the opposite political side.”

“The group was there for no other reason than to cause a disturbance,” Key said. “This is not an incident solely related to a First Amendment right, but rather one where they were simply there to cause a ruckus.”

None of the other teenagers are facing any charges at this time, but Key said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

Duval County Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Henry said in a statement that during the incident, the youths were holding flags emblazoned with the name of former President Donald Trump, and the individuals they confronted were carrying signs supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. .

Henry called it a “disturbing act of intimidation” and thanked the police for their quick response.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process,” Henry said. “The Duval County Democratic Party supports those who seek to express their views peacefully and without fear of reprisal.”

Key said he was “extremely proud” of the police for their handling of the incident.

“Voting is one of the most sacred and protected rights in our country,” he said. “Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is critical, and that will not be compromised in Neptune Beach or Duval County.”

He also expressed outrage at the incident and stressed how seriously the police would treat such incidents.

“I don’t know if you can see how angry I am, but I’m angry about it – I’m very angry about it.” The key said. “It’s one thing to rise up and exercise your First Amendment right, which we hold so dearly as a sacred right to express yourself. But again, as soon as you turn to violence, it goes away.”

“To say I’m worried is an understatement. I’m mad that this happened on Neptune Beach,” he added.

Police are in contact with Jerry Holland, Duval County’s director of elections, and Key said they have a duty to protect the safety of voters at the polls.

“This is a safe place to vote, it was a safe place to vote today before this incident, and it will continue to be a safe place to vote,” he said.