Florida Arrest: Retired NYPD Officer Charged Over Mosque Threat

A retired New York police sergeant was taken into custody in St. Petersburg on Monday following a viral social media exchange that local law enforcement described as a direct threat against an elected official. The incident centers on a dispute over land-use changes for a local religious institution.

Rodolfo Mienert, 68, allegedly commented on a Facebook post criticizing Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott. Scott had recently voted to approve an expansion plan for the North Pinellas mosque. Mienert, who used the username Rudy MineAllmine, called Scott a Republican turncoat and wrote, off with his head! The account profile featured Bugs Bunny holding a revolver and a bio stating..if I pissed off a libtard today, I am happy!! no further reply!!

Detectives traced the internet protocol address of the account to Mienert, who later confirmed ownership. He told investigators he is very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion on political issues. Mienert explained that he used the term turncoat because Scott supported the vote to expand the mosque. The account had also reposted a campaign video for Scott with the caption, DO NOT vote for this person, he voted FOR a mosque.

The dispute follows an October 27 County Commission meeting where residents debated the mosque project. Mienert attended that session and told detectives he moved to Florida to escape New York. He argued that the mosque's growing footprint would harm the environment and worsen traffic conditions in the area.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the arrest in a public statement. He said that threatening to cut off the head of a county commissioner because of his vote on a land issue is intolerable and we will strictly enforce the law against anyone who makes threats of this nature. Mienert served 22 years with the New York Police Department before retiring as a sergeant.

Mienert is currently held in the Pinellas County Jail. He faces one felony count for a written or electronic threat to kill. Under Florida law, this offense carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. Court records indicate he is scheduled to appear before a judge on Tuesday afternoon.