Organizer of Trump boat parades in Florida facing charge of threatening neighbor
An avid supporter of President Trump who organizes boat parades in Florida and attended the Republican National Convention last week, is accused of sending threatening messages to his neighbor.
Carlos Enrique Gavidia, 53, is slated to appear in court on Wednesday to face a felony charge of written threats to kill or do bodily harm, according to a police report obtained by from local outlet CBS 12.
The neighbor, Paul Edenbaum, told Jupiter Police that he was eating with his wife at the Marina Cafe last month when Gavidia pointed at him and approached their table.
Edenbaum said his neighbor threw his hands in the air and allegedly said “f— you, you f—— little Jew,” before calling his wife a misogynistic slur and leaving.
According to Edenbaum, he received a text full of explicit language from Gavidia several minutes later.
“You f—– with the wrong guy I’m coming for you,” the message read in part, according to the police report. “I’ve got nothing to lose but you have plenty like your life, you have no idea who I am I want to get your little f—— friends flicking me off calling me names while we’re at the f—— Marina Cafe.”
Another text message from Gavidia reportedly read: “Dude are we no longer friends because I support the president??? I come up say hello and you act like a dick.”
Edenbaum told police that he had no idea what made Gavidia respond that way, adding that the reaction caused him to fear for his life, according to CBS 12.
Gavidia said he had three verbal altercations with Edenbaum in August and admitted to law enforcement that he sent the text messages.
In a Facebook post, Gavidia alleged that he faced “taunting and liberal attacks” for his support of the president that caused him to sell his home in the luxury community of Admiral’s Cove.
Without referring to Edenbaum by name, Gavidia claimed he was the victim of finger pointing and invasion of personal space.
“Liberals somehow feel it is okay to taunt and harass those unwilling to fall in-line with their way of thinking,” he wrote in his post. “If you retaliate they are the first to cry foul. I told this bully he is messing with the wrong guy and if he kept bothering Laura and me, I would go after him.”
“Now finally standing up for the protection of my wife and family this individual purports to feel threatened, fearful and scared for his life,” he added. “He has gone to the police to press bogus charges against me. Liberals can taunt, harass, curse and make life miserable for me and my family, but god forbid I yell back, stand up for myself and my family; and yes, our President.”
Gavidia made national headlines earlier this year for organizing “Trumptilla” boat parades in support of Trump around the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.
The parades drew the attention of Trump, who in May thanked the boaters participating.
Thank you very much to our beautiful “boaters.” I will never let you down! pic.twitter.com/Ot5Ffnjj9G
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2020
Gavidia and his wife, Laura, have met several members of the Trump family, including the president and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
The couple were in Washington, D.C., last week to see the president accept the Republican presidential nomination at the White House during the GOP convention.
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