South Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz said in a statement Friday that a man recently arrested in South Florida had his name on a “target list” and that there was a “potential plot over (his) life.”
Lt. Michael Druzbik, a spokesman for Margate police, said he could not confirm or release details about alleged specific threats against the congressman. But the department responded to a request for information about Moskowitz’s post with a release about the Nov. 2 arrest of John Lapinski, 41, of Margate.
There is no specific mention of a list or of Moskowitz in the probable cause affidavit for Lapinski’s arrest on firearms-related charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“The day before the election, I was informed by the Margate Police Department, located in my congressional district, of a possible plot on my life,” Moskowitz said in a statement shared on my house arrested. At home; he is a former felon who owned a gun, a suppressor and body armor. A manifesto was found with him that included anti-Semitic rhetoric and only my name on the ‘target list’.
Margate officers were called Oct. 31 after someone heard gunshots in a residential area, the affidavit said. Officers went to a nearby home and noticed an open door on one side of the home. A woman told officers she and her brother Lapinski lived there.
Lapinski’s sister told officers she woke up in her room that morning because she heard what she believed were gunshots, the warrant said.
“Officers attempted to contact John via loudspeakers and phone calls, but were unsuccessful for a period of time until John finally surrendered without further incident,” the affidavit said. “It was later determined that John met the criteria for a Baker Act and was later remanded in custody.”
The state’s Baker Act allows authorities to commit someone to a psychiatric hospital for up to 72 hours.
After Lapinski was taken into custody, officers conducted a “security check” of his home and found in a bedroom a black bag capable of storing a long gun or rifle next to a bed, gun cleaning equipment, and a tall safe containing long weapons were kept. and a “man-made target” made from a bucket and a vertical wooden plank, the affidavit said. They found three spent small caliber shell casings.
Agents then received a search warrant signed by a judge that same day and found six different guns in his home, the affidavit said, and a large cache of ammunition. He also had numerous pieces of equipment and firearm parts, “including silencers that appeared to be store bought and cast by the defendant.” He also had molds, which are used to make weapons, according to the affidavit.
Lapinski was not allowed to possess weapons because he had previously been convicted of two felonies. He also has an active restraining order against him in a 2017 case, according to the affidavit.
“During the investigation, our detectives located several firearms and evidence indicating he may have been planning some criminal act,” Margate police said in their statement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the lead investigating agency, the news release said.
Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, won reelection Tuesday over Republican Joe Kaufman.
Moskowitz said in his statement that he would not release additional details due to the active investigation.
A spokesperson for Moskowitz did not respond to an email late Friday.
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