Winter Haven Man Arrested for Facebook Threats to Shoot Members of Congress and Law Enforcement

PCSO received an email tip at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 3rd, advising that a man named James Patrick was posting numerous threatening remarks on his Facebook page, which is open to the public.

The threats were made on September 22, 24, and 29, 2018. The threats were 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 that responded to his home. He said, “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 Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.”

Detectives conducted an investigation, and obtained an arrest warrant and a search warrant, and took the suspect into custody at 4:00 p.m. that same day.  This was about hours after the initial tip was received.

“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. People need to calm down, and stop making threats of violence – we will not tolerate it.  Anyone who threatens to kill a public officer or law enforcement officer will go to jail.”  – Grady Judd, Sheriff

According to the affidavit, the threats included the following statements:

• “Just bought 12 boxes of hollow point 50 caliber bullets….have plenty of ammo for my sniper rifle and bought a suppressor. Have made sure all my arrangements have been made and care for my dogs because I will not be coming home. Have made extra precautions and added more supplies in the tunnel under my house in case local or federal law enforcement tries to stop me.” (note – there are no tunnels under his house)

• “Getting ready if Kav is not confirmed….whoever I think is to blame may God have mercy on their soul.”

• “Just cleaned out the gun shop where I get guns, ammo, and target practice. Bought all their 50 cal hollow points. I expect to be confronted and I will be ready to kill and ready to die.”

• “I am about to accept an offer on my house just to get more money to fund my plan to kill Democrat office holders and their families. It is all I think about night and day. I even wake up in the middle of the night, most nights, thinking about it. Ultimately I will be killed but hopefully I will have killed many many liberal [sic] elected in Washington.”

• “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 Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. I believe democrats need to be afraid to do what they are doing right now and weak republicans that do not vote for him need to pay with their lives.”

• “I can’t do this by myself! Need more conservatives going into liberals’ homes at night killing them in their sleep!”

His Facebook page also contained photos of him, along with photos of guns and ammunition. Deputies positively identified Patrick and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody at his home around 4:00 p.m. without incident. He admitted to posting the comments, and said he just wanted to annoy liberals by making “crazy statements.” He said he had no intention of carrying out the threats, and he didn’t threaten a specific person by name so he “thought he could get away with it.”

A search warrant for the residence was obtained, and during the search deputies seized a 308 hunting rifle with scope, a 50 caliber Desert Eagle handgun, ammunition for both, numerous receipts from local gun shops, and several used targets.

He remains in the Polk County Jail on $500,000 bond. His criminal history includes a prior arrest in 2009 for simple battery.

“The Democrats aren’t the enemy. The Republicans aren’t the enemy. We’re Americans. All our lives matter. People need to chill out, and stop threatening to shoot people. Words matter.” – Sheriff Grady Judd

Video from press conference