In Salt Lake City, a 75-year-old man named Craig Robertson was shot by officers while they were attempting to arrest him for making threats on social media against officials, including President Joe Biden. According to Utah police records, Robertson had a history of exercising his Second Amendment rights, although sometimes in a reckless manner.
One incident detailed in a Provo Police incident report, which occurred nearly five years prior, involved Robertson bringing a handgun into his backyard to confront Google Fiber employees who were working on a utility pole to connect a neighbor’s WiFi. The employees claimed that nobody had answered the doorbell when they tried to inform Robertson of their work. When Robertson came outside with a gun, accusing them of trespassing, he allegedly waved it around in their direction, causing concern among the employees.
When the police arrived at the scene, Robertson answered the door with an AR-15 slung over his shoulder, leading to a standoff. The responding officer noted that Robertson held the rifle in a ready position, suggesting he had firearms training and knew how to control the weapon. Ultimately, no charges were filed.
Last week, the FBI attempted to arrest Robertson in anticipation of President Biden’s visit to Utah. Authorities accused him of making threats against the president, high-profile Democrats, and FBI agents, accompanied by images of weapons, including sniper rifles. However, family members and neighbors portrayed Robertson as an elderly, homebound man with physical limitations, emphasizing that he posed no real danger to those he threatened online. They regarded him as a kind neighbor who dabbled in modifying firearms and used social media as an outlet for expressing his opinions.
Robertson’s death highlights the complexities law enforcement faces when assessing threats from individuals who possess firearms. Additionally, it occurs at a time when threats have become more prevalent in a politically polarized United States, making policing all the more challenging.
It is worth noting that the Republican party, often associated with upholding law and order, has recently intensified its criticism of law enforcement and the FBI. This shift in rhetoric also contributes to the volatile political climate.
(SOURCE: Associated Press)
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