Background: Video reportedly captured by Emily Staten of the Sebring Police Department headquarters as she drove past (Sebring Police Department). Inset: Emily Staten (Sebring Police Department).
A woman is facing charges for allegedly sending a multitude of menacing messages to a police department in Florida, including threats to kill and a video showing her near the police headquarters.
Emily Staten, age 27, stands accused of issuing a written death threat, utilizing a two-way communication device to aid in a felony, and making threats to law enforcement officers with death or severe bodily harm, based on Highland County court documents.
The alleged activities occurred on a Friday evening when the Sebring Police Department reported it “received alerts regarding threatening remarks and a video published on social media by an individual named Emily Staten.” The department stated that Staten employed Facebook Messenger to convey death threats and violent intentions against its officers.
During the agency’s probe, they allegedly uncovered that Staten authored nearly 200 posts and messages within a span of four hours, with “many containing threats.” Additionally, she purportedly sent a video of herself driving by the department in a menacing way – which the department has disseminated.
In the footage, a person purported to be Staten remains off-screen while heading towards the police headquarters and shouts, “hey fat piggies, you see? You see? How delightful would it be to toss a Molotov cocktail through that window?”
The driver then speeds on by while a man elsewhere in the vehicle can apparently be heard saying “babe, babe.”
The local police department also shared excerpts from Staten”s allegedly threatening posts, noting that “the content of much of her communication is too vulgar to share.”
“If you don’t want me to throw Molotov cocktails through the downtown department, respond now” reads one message.
“I hid all the bottles of gas all around the building” declares another.
Staten also allegedly warned, “This is a threat come find me I want to kill you,” and “Come get shot, I am making a threat against the Sebring Police Department.”
The law enforcement agency sought to clarify that it protects and respects free speech but cannot allow threats of violence.
“We encourage and want everyone to enjoy freedom of speech. However, when free speech crosses the line and turns into threats of violence, we will act swiftly. Threats to kill or do harm will not be tolerated,” the Sebring Police Department said.
Staten’s alleged motive for making the threats — if she had any — remains unclear.
Sebring is a town of about 12,000 people located in central Florida, about 90 miles southeast of Tampa.
Staten was arrested on Friday and placed on a $63,000 bond.
