Rodolfo Mienert, a 68-year-old retired New York Police Department sergeant currently residing in St. Petersburg, was arrested on November 2, 2026, following a social media dispute over local land use. Authorities allege that the former officer made a specific threat against Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott after Scott voted in favor of a proposal to expand a mosque in the North Pinellas area.
The incident began when Mienert commented on a Facebook post that criticized Commissioner Scott for supporting a land-use change. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Mienert labeled Scott a "Republican turncoat" and followed that description with the phrase "off with his head!" The comment was posted under the username "Rudy MineAllmine," an account that detectives linked to Mienert through its IP address.
The Facebook profile in question featured a picture of the cartoon character Bugs Bunny holding a revolver. The account's biography included the text, "..if I pissed off a libtard today, I'm happy!! no further reply!!" The most recent post on the page prior to the incident was a repost of a campaign video for Commissioner Scott, which was accompanied by the caption, "DO NOT vote for this person, he voted FOR a mosque."
Upon being questioned by detectives, Mienert confirmed ownership of the account. He described himself as "very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion" on political matters. He explained that his choice of words was a direct reaction to Scott's vote to allow the mosque expansion, which he viewed as a betrayal of his party.
Mienert also told investigators that he had attended a County Commission meeting on October 27, 2026, where residents debated the mosque issue. During that session, he stated that he had moved from New York to "beautiful Florida" and argued that the expanding footprint of the mosque would negatively impact the local environment and increase traffic congestion.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County issued a statement addressing the arrest. He noted that threatening to cut off the head of a county commissioner due to a vote on a land issue is "intolerable." The Sheriff added that the department would strictly enforce the law against anyone who makes threats of this nature.
Mienert has been charged with one felony count of a written or electronic threat to kill. In Florida, this offense carries a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison. The charge stems directly from the electronic comment he made on the social media platform.
The retired officer, who served for 22 years before retiring as a sergeant with the NYPD, remains in the Pinellas County Jail. Court records indicate that he is scheduled to appear in court on the afternoon of November 3, 2026, for his next legal proceeding.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions in the community regarding the expansion of the North Pinellas mosque. The vote by Commissioner Scott had sparked significant discussion among local residents, some of whom expressed concerns about environmental changes and traffic patterns associated with the proposed development.
