Florida man arrested after dispute over early voting location involving machete

An 18-year-old man was arrested in Florida after police said so brandished a machete during a confrontation at an early voting location, one of the last cases of violence this election season.

Neptune Beach police announced the arrest of Caleb James Williams of Neptune Beach on Tuesday. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office jail records show he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a person 65 years or older and on charges of unlawful exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon.

“This goes far beyond expressing freedom of speech,” Police Chief Michael Key Jr. said. of Neptune Beach as he announced the arrest. “Saying that your piece is your protected First Amendment right, but that goes out the window the minute you hold a machete over your head in a threatening manner.”

Williams was in custody as of Wednesday morning and his attorney information was not immediately available.

Suspect with machete part of Trump-supporting group

Key said Williams and seven male youths went to a parking lot at a busy early voting site in Duval County on Tuesday afternoon with the intention of “protesting and antagonizing the opposing political side.” He said it escalated to the point where Williams “waved a machete above his head in an aggressive, threatening posture” at two women, aged 71 and 54, causing them to call police out of fear.

A local Democratic organizationthe Duval Dems, issued a statement saying Williams was with a group Donald Trump flags, and they approached a group of people waving signs in support of Kamala Harris.

Neptune Beach police assured the location remains safe for voting.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The 2024 election season was marked by violence

Of less than a week away from Election DayThis election season is already characterized by an increased threat of political violence.

A recent survey found that nearly 1 in 3 Republicans who view Trump favorably believe political violence is acceptable, compared to 1 in 4 Republicans overall and 1 in 6 Americans. Experts have warned this could be a dangerous election, USA TODAY previously reported. This is the first presidential election after Trump refused to accept his loss in the 2020 election distrust in the electoral system and fueled the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol January 6, 2021.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts this year. In He was shot in July in the ear by a gunman posted on a roof near a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In September, the Secret Service opened fire on a suspect after spotting a gun barrel in the car bushes along the edge of Trump’s golf coursewhere Trump was playing golf at the time.

Threats have also been made against election workers and government officials this season. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced legal action in four cases earlier in October:

A Philadelphia man was accused of threatening to “skin” a party official;
An Alabama man was accused of threatening to execute election officials in Arizona;
An Arizona man was accused of shooting at a Democratic campaign office;
And a California man was accused of bombing a courthouse.

The polls were on Monday set on fire in Washington and Oregon, damaging hundreds of ballots.

Contributors: Erin Mansfield, Bart Jansen, James Powell, John Bacon

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.