Welcome to Arrest Stories. A thirty-eight-year-old Florida man was arrested after allegedly using the court system to file a lawsuit demanding the execution of a local judge. Here's what may have happened.
On Monday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office Intelligence Unit arrested Joshua Michael Rodriguez on charges of sending written threats to kill or do bodily harm. The investigation began when staff at Community Assisted Supported Living Incorporated told deputies that a client had filed a disturbing lawsuit.
According to authorities, Rodriguez filed a complaint containing explicit threats against a sitting Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court Judge with the Lee County Clerk of Courts. The filing became a public document accessible to anyone. In the lawsuit, Rodriguez allegedly wrote he wanted to sue the judge for treason and her execution, and made references to any and all government officials and entities my militia desires.
The court filing also contained references to Puerto Rico and Second Amendment rights. Intelligence Unit detectives subsequently executed a warrant at Rodriguez's residence in Lee County, Florida, leading to his arrest.
This incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of legal filings by Rodriguez. Over the last two months, he has filed nearly a dozen lawsuits targeting various high-profile defendants. These legal actions included suits against the United States Congress, Governor Ron DeSantis, and even the makers of V-Eight energy drinks.
The case highlights an unusual method of making alleged threats, using the formal court system rather than traditional means of communication. The public nature of court filings meant that Rodriguez's alleged threats became part of the official record and were accessible to court staff and the general public.
Rodriguez was taken into custody by Lee County authorities and faces charges related to written threats to kill or do bodily harm. The investigation involved the Sheriff's Office Intelligence Unit, suggesting the threats were taken seriously by law enforcement given they targeted a sitting judge.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.