NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A 911 call for help and a woman’s testimony gave more insight into the moment when a group of teens, including an 18-year-old accused of brandishing a machete, confronted a group of people holding political signs at an early voting site in Neptune Beach Monday.
The incident happened right outside of the Beaches Branch Library Monday afternoon, according to the Neptune Beach Police Department.
The police chief said a group of eight teenagers ages 16 to 18, including 18-year-old Caleb Williams, tried to cause a ruckus.
He said Williams aggressively brandished a machete toward two women, ages 71 and 54 years old.
News4JAX obtained the 911 call from a woman who watched when the teens pulled into the site and confronted the group.
“There’s a truck full of boys at the library pulling machetes out of their truck,” the frantic 911 caller said. “They got machetes.”
Press play in the video below to listen to the 911 call
One of the sign holders, who did not want to be identified, said Williams and the teens approached her.
“There was so many people around us watching this going on,” she said.
The woman talked to News4JAX Wednesday and she walked us through the sequence of events.
“We’re standing there waving our signs in support of the Harris campaign and this group of teenagers pulled up in a black SUV. They pulled into the parking lot the wrong way screaming and yelling waiving their Trump flags.”
Records show Williams is a registered Republican.
“They come down to us about as close as you are to me waiving their flag in my face. We turned around and told them to go away. We’re going to call the police,” she said.
Williams was charged with aggravated assault and ordered to stay at least 1,000 feet away from any polling locations unless he is voting himself.
“He was trying to scare us, you know, trying to intimidate us. That’s against the law to intimidate voters,” she said.
That woman said she hopes security increases at all polling sites so no one else has to go through anything like this again.
She said she would not let this deter her from showing her political affiliation.
News4JAX asked JSO if it has any plans to increase security measures ahead of Election Day in light of the incident. The agency responded with the following statement:
“We are aware of the incident that occurred in the neighboring jurisdiction.
As planned, we will continue to monitor areas of potential concern and will respond to reported issues or complaints at local polling places. We would ask that anyone having concerns or needing police service while at one of these sites, call 904-630-0500 or 911 if it is an emergency.”
Christian Hancock, JSO Public Information Officer