NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – An 18-year-old now faces an aggravated assault charge after the Neptune Beach Police Department said he “brandished a machete” to intimidate voters.
Chief of Police Michael Key said around 4 p.m. on Tuesday a group of seven juveniles and one adult came to the Jacksonville Public Library Beaches Branch with “ill intentions to cause a disturbance.”
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He said the group drove up, parked their vehicle and started antagonizing early voters to protest the opposing political group, and then the situation escalated to a verbal disturbance.
According to Key, Caleb Williams aggressively brandished a machete toward two women, ages 71 and 54 years old.
The women called the police, and no one was harmed.
The disturbance caused traffic and parking issues but the voting precinct was not evacuated.
“Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is crucial, and it will not be impeded upon in Neptune Beach or Duval County, this goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech to say your piece is your first amendment protected right, but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner,” Key said.
Key ensured that the department would do everything to maintain safe polling locations.
“It was a safe location to vote today before this incident, and it will continue to remain a safe location to vote. We’re committed to that, and we’re always committed to looking at plans to make it safer,” he said.
No one else in the group was arrested or charged, but Key said since this is an ongoing investigation, future charges are possible, if necessary.
Williams was charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon.
Although the police department did not state what party affiliation was targeted in the incident.
The Duval Democraty party responded to the incident and thanked authorities for their response, saying, in part, “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.”