NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – News4JAX has learned that an 18-year-old, who now faces an aggravated assault charge after police said he “brandished a machete” to intimidate voters, is a registered Republican.
Duval County Democratic Party Chair Daniel Henry responded to the incident in Neptune Beach and confirmed that the voters who were confronted by the teen with the machete were waving Harris-Walz signs.
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“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,” Henry said in a statement.
According to Neptune Beach Chief of Police Michael Key, 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.”
He said the group drove up, parked their vehicle and started antagonizing early voters. Police said only that they were protesting “the opposing political group.”
Henry said the young men were carrying Trump flags when they “confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign wavers exercising their First Amendment rights.”
Police said the situation escalated to a verbal disturbance, and 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.
“We commend the Neptune Beach Police for their prompt response, which helped ensure the safety of our community members,” Henry said.
Police found a machete with an 18-inch blade in plain view in the bed of a truck Williams was standing next to, and one of the women had taken a photo of Williams approaching her with the machete over his head.
The photo and machete were taken into evidence
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. “To say that I am disturbed is an understatement. I am mad that this happened in Neptune Beach.”
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.
“We are grateful for the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement officers who worked to maintain peace and respond to this incident,” Henry said.
Williams was charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. Records show he registered with the Republican Party of Florida in March of last year.
“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,” Henry said. “We urge all citizens to continue engaging in civic activities respectfully and lawfully.”