Crime & Safety
Florida Crime: Retired New York Police Sergeant Accused of Beheading Threat
St. Petersburg, FL – A retired New York City police sergeant has been arrested in Fl…
By Wesley Grant · 2026-11-03T19:41:47.898Z
St. Petersburg, FL – A retired New York City police sergeant has been arrested in Florida after allegedly posting a threatening Facebook comment about cutting off a Pinellas County commissioner's head following a controversial vote involving a mosque expansion.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, 68 year old Rodolfo Mienert was arrested after investigators linked him to an online comment targeting County Commissioner Brian Scott.
Detectives received a report of the alleged threat Monday, Nov. 2, after a local media outlet published a Facebook post criticizing Scott's vote approving a mosque expansion in Pinellas County.
In response, an account allegedly associated with Mienert posted a comment referring to Scott as a "Republican" turncoat and ending with the words "off with his head!"
Investigators traced the account's IP address to Mienert , according to the sheriff's office.
Detectives subsequently contacted Mienert at his residence, where he reportedly acknowledged that the Facebook account belonged to him.
During the investigation, Mienert told deputies he had attended a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting where a woman wearing Islamic attire was escorted out.
He reportedly described himself as outspoken about political issues and explained that he considered Scott a "turncoat" because the commissioner, a Republican, supported the mosque expansion.
Authorities also revealed that Mienert had retired from the New York City Police Department as a sergeant after 22 years of service.
Mienert was arrested and charged with one felony count of written threats to kill. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri condemned the alleged threat, saying that threatening to cut off a commissioner's head over a land use vote was intolerable and that the law would be enforced.
The arrest highlights the distinction between protected political criticism and statements investigators believe may constitute criminal threats.
Authorities have not announced additional charges.
Mienert is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Anyone with information concerning threats can contact the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 727 582 6200.
Source: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office — "St. Petersburg Man Arrested for Written Threats to Kill" 26 092 , Nov. 2026.