Man arrested after social media post against Gilbert council
Screen capture from YouTube
Gilbert Town Councilmember Chuck Bongiovanni was engaging the public about town utility rates in a social media forum, when one response from a member of the public led to an arrest.
Gilbert Police have arrested a man in connection with online social media comments he made to a council member, officials said.
Robert Walker Duane Bird, 40, allegedly made a comment threatening violence toward Gilbert council members, according to police.
He was arrested on five count of threatening to inflict physical harm on any person or to property in any electronic communication, a class 1 misdemeanor, according to police.
In Arizona, a class 1 misdemeanor can result in a maximum of six months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, plus surcharges, and up to three years of probation.
In a post about Gilbert water rates on a popular social media group dedicated generally to the town, an account under the name “Rob Byrd” posted, “Pull out the pew pews then, I guarantee they will drop the attitude and listen to what people have to say with a loaded pipe pointed at their face. Don’t be a wuss, bully the bullies... #iwillnotcomply #(expletive)thegovernment #HeathenLyfe.”
Councilmember Chuck Bongiovanni, who had been engaging the public on the post, responded, “Rob Byrd I have a family, was that comment really necessary? Really? I will listen to you anytime, you just have to email me chuck.bongiovanni@gilbertaz.gov.”
In a statement, police said they were notified of the message Oct. 15 and made the arrest Oct. 16.
“The Gilbert Police Department reminds the public that making threats of violence, even on social media, is a criminal offense and will be investigated thoroughly,” the statement read.
Gilbert’s water rates, along with other town utilities, have spiked the past two years and spiked outrage frequently expressed on social media but also at council’s last meeting Oct. 14.
Bongiovanni, who was elected in 2022, said he did not refer the matter to police but believes another council member did.
“I don't know anything more than just the police report,” he told Independent Newsmedia. “They arrested, and they felt it was a credible threat, enough to arrest, and it's a shame, you know what I'm saying?
“Put it this way, sometimes people make threats, and they wouldn't do it, but you never know who's listening and watching. The other people I'm more concerned about at times.”
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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