Prosecutors said that a New York man was charged with threatening to kill Yonkers’ mayor and Yonkers’ police officers during a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Ridonkola 32, is accused in threatening messages posted on social media that he would “slaughter and “crucify” members of the Yonkers Police Department. These messages were “all along McLean Avenue,” which runs along the city’s parade route.
According to the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, he was taken into custody on Friday.
According to a criminal case, Kola allegedly began posting the messages in 2021. He allegedly posted a threat in Albanian on Nov. 19, 2021. It was translated as: “I am going out to slaughter you little girls,” according to the complaint.
He allegedly wrote the following month that he was going after Mike Spano and officers.
Kola was interviewed by investigators in his home on December 20, 2021. According to the complaint, he acknowledged writing the messages but claimed they weren’t serious and that he didn’t intend to harm the officers or the mayor. The police searched his house but did not find any weapons.
The police department issued a warning that officers should exercise caution when dealing with Kola because of the threats.
Kola is accused of sending threats again earlier this month. He wrote on March 6 that Kola was looking for an officer, and that he would “burn all the world” until he found one.
Kola, allegedly threatened to “crucify” police officers and their bosses in a March 9 message. He allegedly stated that “it will be a horrible scene.”
Prosecutors claimed that Kola lived in an area near the parade’s end and had posted a photo of himself holding an axe.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that Kola’s actions will not be tolerated.
Kola was charged with threatening violence against police officers or the public to undercut public safety and will be sentenced for this.
Kola could be sentenced to a maximum of five years imprisonment if convicted.
