Police arrested an 18-year-old wielding a machete with an 18-inch blade outside a polling place in Florida on Tuesday, who was among a group of teenagers accused of intimidating Democratic supporters.

The teen, Caleb James Williams, was arrested after 4 p.m. when officers were called to the Beaches Branch Library in Neptune Beach.

Williams was arrested on charges of aggravated assault for allegedly brandishing his gun at two unidentified women, ages 71 and 54, and improper exhibition of a weapon, the Neptune Beach Police Department said.

The local Democratic campaign said it was “deeply concerned” by Tuesday’s events, in which it said a group of young men holding signs supporting former President Donald Trump confronted a group holding signs proclaiming promotion of Kamala Harris.

Police Chief Michael J. Key Jr. said in a news conference Tuesday evening that officers found a group of eight people, including seven juveniles and one adult, in the library parking lot.

“The investigation revealed that the group had come to protest and antagonize the opposing political camp,” he said.

The group approached opposing protesters and an argument developed between the two sides, before Williams “raised a machete in an aggressive and threatening posture above his head,” Key said, adding that the department released an image of that moment.

“The group was only there for bad intentions, to cause trouble,” Key continued.

Key added that the incident was a clear case of actions going beyond what is permitted under free speech laws.

“This goes way beyond expressing free speech – saying your article is protected by the First Amendment, but that disappears as soon as you raise a machete above your head in a threatening manner,” he said. he declared.

Key said there were no plans to arrest or charge the other members of the group because their actions did not “cross the criminal threshold,” but he stressed that an investigation was underway.

Duval County Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Henry praised police for their quick response.

He said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned about a violent incident today at the Beaches Library, where a group of young men carrying Trump flags, along with one individual armed with a machete, confronted peaceful protesters from Harris-Walz serving their first term.

Police sought to assure people that the polling place and other county sites remained safe for voters.

Duval GOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.