A disturbing recurrence in 2023: People hiding behind nameless usernames (particularly on 4chan) making on-line threats to kill Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
The most recent incident, a Pennsylvania man arrested for threatening Volusia Sheriff’s deputy Royce James, is the primary circuitously addressed to the sheriff; nevertheless, it provides to the a number of directed on the official this yr.
The state of affairs started in February, after Chitwood and different county leaders known as out a gaggle generally known as the Goyim Protection League for a wide range of antisemitic actions reported in Volusia County, together with displaying antisemitic indicators on a pedestrian overpass resulting in the Daytona Worldwide Speedway the weekend of the Daytona 500.
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Along with the newest menace, six others have been made towards Chitwood this yr, principally from people outdoors of Florida.
A few of these extradited even obtained a not-so-friendly greeting from the sheriff himself as they arrived in Volusia County.
Here’s a have a look at every case:
1. New Jersey man accused of threatening to homicide Chitwood
The primary menace got here at first of March, when Richard Golden, 38, of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, was charged with second-degree felony written threats to kill or injure.
In accordance with the sheriff’s workplace, Golden used the 4chan chatroom to jot down: “Simply shoot Chitwood within the head and he stops being an issue. They should discover a new man to be the issue. However capturing Chitwood within the head solves a direct downside completely. Simply shoot Chitwood within the head and homicide him.”
What’s 4chan: The net platform some have used to allegedly threaten Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood
Throughout a press convention asserting the arrest, Chitwood mentioned Golden was an unemployed, anti-law enforcement one that was dwelling in a again bed room at his mom’s home.
“As soon as he’s extradited, he will probably be housed on the happiest place on earth, the Volusia County Department Jail,” Chitwood mentioned.
Final week, a decide denied a request by Golden’s protection to dismiss the cost towards him, arguing that his feedback weren’t a “true menace.”
2. California man accused of threatening to kill Chitwood
On the finish of March, San Diego police arrested Tyler Meyer, 30, at a house the place he lived together with his mom.
Meyer was the second particular person charged with threatening the Volusia sheriff in 2023.
Meyer was charged with making a written menace to kill or injure, a second-degree felony.
He’s additionally accused of posting his menace on 4chan: “It’s too dangerous Mike Chitwood isn’t protected now that I’m planning to kill him. I’m going to shoot Mike Chitwood. I’m going to kill him by capturing him to dying.”
Meyer was extradited to Volusia County in April.
“Tyler, I am Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood,” the sheriff mentioned as Tyler Meyer descended an airport escalator with two regulation enforcement escorts by his aspect. “Welcome to Volusia County, Florida. Get pleasure from your keep.”
“Thanks,” Meyer replied.
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Meyer posted a $100,000 bond on Might 19 and was launched from the Volusia County Department Jail, in line with courtroom data.
3. Connecticut man third 4chan person accused of threatening Chitwood
Cristhian Zapata, of Ansonia, Connecticut, was arrested by the Shelton Police Division on a felony warrant for making a written menace to kill Chitwood.
In accordance with police, Zapata, 23, wrote on 4chan: “I WILL KILL CHITWOOD, MARK MY WORDS.”
Authorities traced Zapata’s message to his Connecticut house, the place he lived together with his sister, her fiancé and her little one.
In accordance with the sheriff’s workplace, Zapata’s sister informed authorities that her brother was fascinated with Adolf Hitler and was at all times on his pc, usually collaborating in extremist chat rooms and “speaking to unknown folks about conspiracy theories and white supremacist ideology.”
Zapata was extradited in Might, and though Chitwood was not current at his arrival, he tweeted: “Sorry I wasn’t capable of be a part of the welcoming committee this time. Get pleasure from your keep.”
Zapata pleaded no contest Sept. 27 to written threats to kill or do bodily damage. He faces as much as 15 years in jail.
4. Canadian man accused of threatening Chitwood
Calgary, Alberta, police arrested Tony Stromberg, of Calgary, in June after authorities mentioned he “made repeated threats over Twitter, through e-mail, and in cellphone calls to sheriff’s workplace staff.”
He’s additionally accused of sending emails threatening to homicide the sheriff and his members of the family, in line with the sheriff’s workplace.
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“In a follow-up e-mail in March, Stromberg wrote that he had made an ‘clearly way more credible menace’ however was upset that ‘not one police automobile not to mention FBI automobile has pulled as much as my home,’” mentioned sheriff’s workplace spokesman Andrew Gant.
Stromberg won’t be extradited to Volusia County; he was charged with uttering threats to trigger dying and is predicted to be tried in Canada.
5. Deltona man accused of threatening to kill Chitwood
Ethan Russell, 22, of Deltona was already in jail when in July he was charged with threatening to kill Chitwood.
Russell had been in jail since Might for trespassing at a development website the place he tried suicide, in line with the arrest report.
He had additionally been placed on probation three years in the past for threatening to conduct a mass capturing, and threatening to bomb and burn down federal buildings and excessive colleges.
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Russell wrote in a letter that he would run Chitwood over with a automobile, and if that did not kill him, he mentioned he would beat him to dying and burn his physique with napalm, in line with the arrest report.
6. Alaska man already indicted on homicide prices accused of threatening to ‘blind and kill’ Chitwood
Joshua Wahl, 31, of Dillingham, Alaska, who had already been indicted for 2 counts of homicide in his house state, was once more indicted this week for threatening the Volusia sheriff.
He was indicted on one rely of cyberstalking and 4 counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce.
Wahl is accused of constructing the threats each through e-mail and thru 4chan between March and April, which included to “blind and kill,” in line with the sheriff’s workplace.
“Not each loser threatening violence on the web will get caught, however I’m glad yet another is getting a dose of actuality,” Chitwood mentioned in response to the indictment.
It’s unclear when Wahl will probably be extradited to Volsuia County.
This text initially appeared on The Daytona Seaside Information-Journal: Man who threatened sheriff pleads no contest. What in regards to the different 5?