An 18-year-old was arrested outside a polling station in Florida on Tuesday, where police say he tried to intimidate voters casting ballots in the presidential election using a machete.
Caleb james williams is now facing charges of Severe assault On a person 65 years of age or older and inappropriate display of a firearm or dangerous weapon.
Caleb James Williams is seen holding a machete in this posted photo shared by police.
Bulletin/Neptune Beach Police Department
In a news conference following the arrest, Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael J. Kee told reporters that the teen “waved a machete in an aggressive and threatening position above his head,” trying to intimidate two women, ages 54 and 71.
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Key said Williams was with seven other friends who showed up outside the Beaches Branch Library in Neptune Beach on Tuesday, approaching the signs and antagonizing the “opposing political side,” though he did not reveal the suspect’s political affiliations.

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“The group was there for no other reason than bad intentions and to cause a disturbance,” Key said. “Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is critical and that will not be hindered in Neptune Beach or Duval County.”
Duval County Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Henry Shared on social media That the youth group were supporting Donald Trump.
“We are deeply concerned about the violent incident that occurred at Peaches Library, where a group of youth carrying Trump flags, along with one person armed with a machete, confronted signs of peaceful Harris Falls exercising their First Amendment rights,” Duval County said. The Democratic Party said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“This disturbing act of intimidation was met with a quick response from the Neptune Beach Police Department, who arrived within minutes to assess and de-escalate the situation,” the post added.
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The Duval Republican Party issued its own statement on Wednesday, thanking the officers who made the arrest.
“In an environment of extreme political tension, where President Trump has survived two assassination attempts, GOP supporters are mocked as Nazis and Joe Biden calls ‘trash,’ we urge calm as we approach the end of this election season,” the statement said. He stopped short of naming the suspect or condemning his actions.
Key told reporters he was “very proud” of the way police handled the incident.
“Voting in our country is one of the most sacred and protected rights we have,” he said. “Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is critical and that will not be hindered in Neptune Beach or Duval County.”
During his court appearance on Wednesday, a judge set Williams’ bail at $55,006 and ordered him not to come within 1,000 feet of a polling place unless he is voting. He was also ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.
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