Retired NYPD sergeant arrested over Facebook post calling for county commissioner's head

Rodolfo Mienert, 68, was taken into custody Monday by Pinellas County deputies after posting a comment on a local media outlet's Facebook page. The comment called for Pinellis County Commissioner Brian Scott to lose his head. Scott recently voted to approve the expansion of a mosque in the county.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office began its investigation after receiving a report on the threatening comment posted Sunday. Detectives traced the IP address linked to the Facebook account to Mienert. When officers contacted Mienert at his home, he confirmed the account was his.

Mienert told investigators he attended a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting. At that meeting, a woman wearing full Islamic attire was escorted out. Mienert described himself as very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion on political issues. He explained that he called Scott a turncoat because the commissioner identifies as a Republican but supported the mosque expansion.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the arrest in a statement. He said threatening to cut off the head of a county commissioner because of his vote on a land issue is intolerable. Gualtieri added that the department will strictly enforce the law against anyone who makes threats of this nature.

Mienert previously served as a sergeant with the New York City Police Department for 22 years before retiring. He has been held at the Pinellas County Jail since his arrest.

The sheriff's office is asking the public to contact them at 727-582-6200 or submit information through FortifyFL if they have details about threats. Mienert remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.