Retired NYPD Sergeant Held in Florida Jail After Online Threat Against Local Official

A 68-year-old retired New York Police Department sergeant is being held in a Florida county jail after a social media comment led to a felony arrest. Rodolfo Mienert lives in St. Petersburg and was taken into custody on November 2, 2026. Authorities say he threatened Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott online.

The dispute centers on a local land use decision. Commissioner Scott voted to allow the expansion of a mosque in the North Pinellas area. Mienert responded to a Facebook post criticizing that vote. Under the username Rudy MineAllmine, he called Scott a Republican turncoat. He followed that label with the phrase off with his head. Detectives linked the account to Mienert using its IP address.

The Facebook profile displayed a cartoon rabbit holding a revolver. The bio text read if I pissed off a libtard today I am happy no further reply. A recent post on the page shared a campaign video for Scott. The caption on that video stated DO NOT vote for this person he voted FOR a mosque. Mienert confirmed to detectives that he owned the account. He described himself as very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion on political matters.

Mienert told investigators his words were a direct reaction to Scott's vote. He viewed the expansion as a betrayal of his party. He also noted that he attended a County Commission meeting on October 27, 2026. During that session, he discussed moving from New York to Florida. He argued the mosque project would harm the local environment and add traffic congestion.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County addressed the arrest in a statement. He said threatening to cut off the head of a commissioner over a land vote is intolerable. The sheriff added that the department will strictly enforce the law against such threats. Mienert is charged with one felony count of a written or electronic threat to kill. Florida law sets the maximum sentence for this offense at 15 years in prison.

Mienert served 22 years with the NYPD before retiring as a sergeant. He remains in the Pinellas County Jail. Court records show he is scheduled to appear before a judge on the afternoon of November 3, 2026.