Arrest over mosque vote threat

Rodolfo Mienert, 68, was arrested Monday in West Lealman after Pinellas County deputies linked a Facebook comment to his account. The comment called for Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott to lose his head following Scott’s approval of a mosque expansion.

Detectives initiated the investigation after a report of a threatening comment posted Sunday on a local media outlet's Facebook page. The original post criticized Scott's vote. Mienert's response read: "But Scott's WAS, and he's a Republican' turncoat..off with his head!" Tracing the IP address connected the account to Mienert, who confirmed ownership when detectives visited his home.

Mienert told investigators he attended a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting where a woman in full Islamic attire was escorted out. He described himself as "very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion" on political matters. He explained that he called Scott a "turncoat" because the Republican commissioner voted in favor of the expansion.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri stated that threatening to cut off a commissioner's head over a land vote is intolerable. The sheriff's office pledged to strictly enforce the law against similar threats. Mienert was taken into custody at the Pinellas County Jail.

Mienert previously served as a sergeant with the New York City Police Department. He retired after 22 years of service. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is accepting information about threats via phone at 727-582-6200 or through FortifyFL.