Tampa: Former NYPD Sergeant Arrested Over Mosque Vote Threat

Rodolfo Mienert, 68, was arrested on Monday by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office after posting a threatening comment on social media. The post targeted Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott. Mienert had previously served as a police sergeant in New York City for 22 years before retiring.

The incident began on Sunday when a local media outlet published a post criticizing Scott. The criticism focused on his vote to approve a mosque expansion. A user commented on the post, writing that Scott was a Republican turncoat and calling for him to lose his head.

Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office received a report about the comment. They traced the internet protocol address of the Facebook account to Mienert. Officers went to his home in West Lealman to speak with him. Mienert confirmed the account was his.

During the interview, Mienert explained his reasoning to investigators. He said he attended a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting. A woman wearing full Islamic attire was present at that meeting. She was later escorted out. Mienert described himself as vocal and not afraid to share his opinion on political matters.

He told detectives he called Scott a turncoat because the commissioner is a Republican. Scott voted in favor of the mosque expansion. Mienert was taken to the Pinellas County Jail following the confirmation.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the arrest in a statement. He said threatening to cut off the head of a county commissioner over a land issue is intolerable. The sheriff's office said it will strictly enforce the law against threats of this nature.

The sheriff's office invites anyone with information about threats to contact them at 727-582-6200. They also accept submissions through the FortifyFL platform. Mienert remains in custody as the case proceeds.