JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An 18-year-old was arrested at the Beaches Branch Library in Neptune Beach Tuesday afternoon, as the library was acting as a polling location for early voting in the November election. Police say he was wielding a machete.
The teen, Caleb James Williams, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a person of 65 years or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or a dangerous weapon.
The Neptune Beach Police Department was called to the library at 4 p.m. They arrived to find eight young males, which included Williams and seven other teenage boys, who were between the ages of 16 and 17.
Police say the group showed up to protest and "antagonize" people on the "opposing political side." They approached people waving signs on the side of State Road A1A and the confrontation "escalated."
The Duval County Democratic Party, aka Duval Dems, released a statement where they said the group of young men was carrying Trump flags, and the victims were holding Harris-Walz signs. Their full statement is at the end of this story.*
This is when Williams brandished the machete, targeting a 71-year-old woman and a 54-year-old woman, police said. Pictures released by police show him waving it in the air.
"Saying your piece is your First Amendment right, but that goes out the window the second that you raise a machete," NBPD Police Chief Michael J. Key Jr. said.
Key said that the other teens involved have not been criminally charged at this time, but the investigation is still ongoing.
"It probably turned into a little bit of a herd mentality, as I know juveniles sometimes do," Key said. "Those individuals, to the information we have, did not cross the criminal threshold for criminal charges at this point."
*Full statement:
In response to a violent incident at the Beaches Library Early Voting site, Duval County Democratic Party Chair, Daniel Henry, released the following statement:
"We are deeply concerned about a violent incident today at the Beaches Library, where a group of young men carrying Trump flags, with one individual armed with a machete, confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign-wavers exercising their First Amendment rights. 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.
"We commend the Neptune Beach Police for their prompt response, which helped ensure the safety of our community members. Following a thorough investigation, the individual brandishing the machete was arrested and now faces felony charges. We are grateful for the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement officers who worked to maintain the peace and respond to this incident.
"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. We urge all citizens to continue engaging in civic activities respectfully and lawfully.
"We remain resolute and focused on our mission to win this election for Vice President Kamala Harris and encourage everyone to vote."