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A man from Aventura was arrested at Plantation as part of the federal investigation into suspected parcels sent to prominent critics of President Donald Trump, according to reported information.
Although federal law enforcement officials have not named the suspect, a report from NBC News, which has since been confirmed by CNN and other outlets, has identified it as Cesar Sayoc Jr., 56, of Aventura.
The records show that Sayoc has already been arrested in Florida for various offenses, most of which involve theft. Broward County Court records indicate that Sayoc was born in Brooklyn, NY.
The Miami-Dade County Court Records show that Sayoc was arrested there in 2002 for threatening to launch, place, or sink a destructive craft.
According to an incident report, Sayoc allegedly phoned a Florida Power & Light facility in Miami on August 7, 2002, and threatened to blow it up, telling a representative that "it would be worse than September 11," according to the report. report.
He also said that "something would happen" to the representative if his electricity was cut off, according to Miami police. He had been sentenced to one year's stay in this case, which he had completed in June 2003.
NBC News reported that DNA evidence had played a role in Sayoc's arrest in the bombing plot. The alleged role of Sayoc in the plot has still not been confirmed. The US Department of Justice should provide information about this at a press conference scheduled for 14:30.
A police source told the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida that the authorities had followed the suspect to Plantation, near Broward Blvd. and Highway 441. Jim DeFede of CBS4 News in Miami announced the arrest occurred at approximately 10:30 am at an auto parts store in Plantation.
DeFede reported that a "strong explosion" – probably due to a device of the forces of order – had been heard during the arrest.
Helicopters captured footage of authorities investigating a Sayoc-related van, each window being covered with pro-Trump stickers. Federal agents covered the van with a blue tarp, loaded it into a truck and carried it off, according to reported information.
The photos of the van showed many images of Trump and other Republicans, including Governor Rick Scott and former US representative Ron DeSantis, the governor's nominee for the GOP. The stickers also espoused anti-immigration and anti-socialist rhetoric.
Scott said in a tweet that he had been informed by the Florida Law Enforcement Department about "developments regarding attempted bombings".
"Any attempt to harm others is disgusting and has no place in Florida or in our country," Scott said on Twitter. "I appreciate the hard work of law enforcement to ensure that justice is promptly done to whoever is responsible for these cowardly acts."
The van also included images associated with the Florida Seminole tribe, but a spokesperson says Politico in Florida that there was no record of him as a member or employee of the tribe.
CNN announced the news, followed shortly after by a report by NBC News that a man "was detained for interrogation". Both reports cited anonymous sources relating to the application of the law.
Sarah Isgur Flores, director of public affairs at the Ministry of Justice, then confirmed the basic information on Twitter: "We can confirm that someone is in detention," tweeted Flores.
The packages – described as having an appearance and design similar to those of compressed air pipes – were intended for former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
The arrest comes as the number of similar devices has increased to 12. The latest one was sent to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper.
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that devices, equipped with timers and batteries, were not designed to explode at the opening. It is not known if they have failed or were never designed to explode.
Florida is tied to the case since the beginning of the investigation.
The Miami Herald reported the parcels sent to Clinton, Obama, former CIA director John Brennan, former Attorney General Eric Holder and billionaire George Soros all had the same return address: the representative American Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the Sunrise office.
At the same time, an official told The Associated Press that a search of a postal database had suggested that at least some of the parcels might have been sent by Florida – the main authorities in Opa-locka.
The US Postal Service manages mail sent from Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, according to reports.
The FBI also said that the package sent to Booker had been intercepted in Florida.
The bombs would have a length of about six inches and would be filled with powder and broken glass. The first bomb was delivered Monday to the New York complex of Soros, a major Democratic donor.
Trump, on Friday, complained on Twitter that "this" bomb was diverting attention from the upcoming elections and said critics wrongly accused him of blaming him and his inflamed rhetoric.
The Associated Press contributed.
This is a story in development. Check later for updates.
[email protected], 407-420-5171 or @JeffWeinerOS on Twitter
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