No one can deny that tension in America has reached extremely alarming levels. Divisive political beliefs have caused many citizens to stop seeing their perceived enemies as equals, and that’s a huge problem. To highlight the increase in this type of belief, a New York man was just recently found guilty of threatening protestors with a bladed glove.

The suspect, 57-year-old Frank Cavalluzzi, was reportedly driving through a Whitestone, New York, neighborhood back on June 2, 2020. At the time, a wave of Black Lives Matter protests was occurring as a result of the controversial murder of George Floyd. As Cavalluzzi traversed through the neighborhood, he witnessed a group of demonstrators holding posters and signs.

Rather than going about his business, the suspect reportedly stopped his SUV. Enraged, he started yelling racially-charged profanities and slurs. He also tried to threaten the protestors by telling them they were in the wrong neighborhood.

Then, the suspect got out of his car and grabbed four serrated blades that were attached to a leather glove. He started waving the weapon at protestors, chasing them, and screaming. He then got back into his car before saying “I will kill you.”

Next, he attempted to drive his SUV onto the sidewalk and into the protestors.

Thankfully, no one was injured during this tense incident, but one of the protestors noted that the incident was extremely scary. On August 28, Cavalluzzi was found guilty of attempted murder and other charges. He is expected to be sentenced in October where he could face up to 25 years to life in prison.

Criminal Menacing, Threatening, and Related Charges

Have you ever been fed up with the rising tension and felt like you should take things into your own hands? There’s no doubt that those feelings make sense considering the times we’re all living through, but you must always consider the consequences of your actions.

It’s never okay for you to criminally threaten someone else’s life, even if they are protesting, disrupting your daily routine, or sitting in your own neighborhood.

In New York, criminal menacing means putting someone else in fear of immediate physical injury. When protests are occurring, using your vehicle to threaten them would be considered criminal menacing. It would also be considered criminal menacing to bring a weapon to a protest and brandish it. Depending on the situation, verbal threats, like the ones made by Cavalluzzi, would also be considered criminal menacing.

In New York, first-degree menacing is a class E felony that comes with life-long consequences. You could potentially serve up to four years in prison as well as get charged fines and be put on probation.

Cavalluzzi has hired a team of legal representatives who are currently arguing that the suspect was experiencing mental health challenges and struggling to cope with the evolving city that he lives in. This type of defense is valid considering how quickly things are changing.

If you get charged with a crime in Brooklyn, then you deserve a good legal team, too. Contact our legal experts here at Buck Law Firm to talk about your charges in more detail with our experts.