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‘Make streets of DC run red’: Florida deputy accused of making threats after Capitol attack

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Florida sheriff’s deputy is accused of sending texts to a colleague the day the U.S. Capitol was overrun by protesters, which said in part that they “needed to make the streets of D.C. run red with the blood of the tyrants,” authorities said Tuesday.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest of Deputy Peter Heneen, 29, of Bartow, WTVT reported. Heneen, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 6 1/2 years, faces a second-degree felony charge for threats, WFTS reported.

“As you can see, I am angry beyond words,” Judd said at a news conference. “I am as proud of my witness, who is my deputy, as I could ever be, because he stood up and said, ‘That’s not how the system works.”

According to Judd, Heneen messaged a fellow deputy about the riot at the U.S. Capitol on the evening of Jan. 6. What began as a rant turned into a disturbing series of texts, Judd said.

According to the sheriff, Heneen threatened to “shoot the feds” and “make the streets of DC run red with the blood of tyrants.”

“It’s not over, any cop or military who stands in the way is the enemy,” Heneen wrote, according to Judd.

The deputy who received the texts became alarmed and showed them to his lieutenant, according to WTVT.

After the investigation into the conversation, Heneen was arrested, WFLA reported.

“Having him arrested was important,” Judd told reporters. “Having him arrested before Inauguration Day was even more important.”

The deputy that alerted the sheriff’s office has returned to work, WFLA reported.

“You issue a written threat, you’re gonna get locked up too,” Judd said. “No matter who you are. Because we are going to ensure the safety and security of this community and quite frankly, it’s time for this entire nation to take a deep breath, and to calm down.

“Let me make one thing abundantly clear: You can’t police the society unless you first police yourself.”