WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Winter Haven man has been taken into custody after the Polk Sheriff's Office said he made online threats to members of Congress. 

  • Identified as James Patrick Jr.
  • Sheriff Grady Judd said suspect made threats via his Facebook page
  • Man posted he "will know who needs to be killed after the (Kavanaugh) vote"

Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said James Patrick Jr. posted on his Facebook page that he was going to shoot members of Congress and their families depending on which way the Supreme Court justice confirmation vote went, and any local or federal law enforcement who responded to his home.

His posts specifically seemed to target anyone who voted against Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Judd referenced some of the suspect's quotes.

"Just cleaned out the gun shop where I get guns ... I expect to be confronted and I will be ready to kill and ready to die," Patrick Jr. is accused of posting.

He also posted: "I can tell it seems I will be sacrificing my life for my country. But I am ready and will know who needs to be killed after the vote to put (Brett) Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court."

In another post, Patrick Jr. is accused of writing, "Democrats need to be afraid" and "Weak Republicans need to pay with their lives."

Judd said his office's tip line received information about the suspect.

 

 

"Within five hours of receiving an email tip about the posts, our detectives investigated it, obtained an arrest warrant and search warrant, and took the suspect into custody without incident," Judd said.

The sheriff said the suspect tried to downplay his posts, saying he didn't mention any Congressman by name and that he was "just making it up to scare people."

"People need to calm down, and stop making threats of violence - we will not tolerate it," Judd said. "Anyone who threatens to shoot or kill any public servant or law enforcement officer will go to jail immediately." 

Patrick Jr. is being held under $500,000 bond.