VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WABC) — A 38-year-old New Jersey man is in custody after investigators say he threatened to kill the Volusia County Sheriff in Florida.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Richard Golden made the threat on an online forum after the sheriff held a news conference about anti-Semitic material that had surfaced in the county.
“Here’s a clown sitting in his bedroom inspired by this bull (expletive) and thinks the best way to solve this problem is to put a bullet in my head,” Chitwood said at a news conference Tuesday.
Chitwood said the FBI is involved in the investigation of Golden, who was arrested in New Jersey.
Investigators said they are going through Golden’s computer and phone to decide if additional charges should be filed.
Deputies said Golden’s full statement was first flagged by the Central Florida Intelligence Agency, and from there it was taken by the state attorney’s office with subpoenas and search warrants obtained, which eventually led to Golden being taken into custody.
The online commentary followed a February press conference in which Chitwood addressed anti-Semitic material that surfaced during and after the Daytona 500.
Read: ‘Racist Cowards’: Volusia Sheriff Vows to Fight White Supremacists Spreading Hate
Chitwood said the group responsible for the material was called the “Goyum Defense League,” which Golden said he was not part of.
However, Chitwood said no online comments of this nature should be ignored.
“Like every active shooter we deal with, he’s a marginalized member of society who spends hours and hours and hours in these extremist chat rooms,” Chitwood said.
Golden is scheduled to be transferred to the Volusia County Jail, where his bond will be set at $100,000.
READ ALSO | A teenager with autism was beaten, called a racial slur in the subway; video posted on social media
———-
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or idea for a story we should cover? Submit it to Eyewitness News using the form below. When you attach a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2023 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.
