SPOKANE, Wash. — 74-year-old Robert Martindale went before a judge for the first time today on a charge of threats to bomb or injure property, stemming from allegations he made threats against a Florida retirement community called The Villages and President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
President Trump visited The Villages last week. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in Florida contacted Spokane police around 10:40 a.m. Saturday regarding ‘threatening phone calls made to The Villages retirement community and Mar-a-Lago.’ Florida authorities traced the calls to Martindale’s phone number.
In court documents, investigators claim Martindale said to a receptionist at The Villages: “me and my friends are getting our semi-automatics and are coming to blow you guys up, because of that scumbag Trump.” The documents continue to say Martindale ranted about the President pardoning criminals who attack the police.
Both the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and federal Secret Service agents requested Spokane police contact Martindale. Police said he was allegedly upset about Trump’s recent visit to “The Villages.”
When officers contacted Martindale, he admitted to making the calls multiple times. According to police, Martindale told officers his communications were “not a threat, but a warning.”
Martindale went before a judge for the first time Monday and remains in custody at Spokane County Jail. His bond was set at $10,000.
The defense attorney noted Martindale has no criminal history. He’ll be back in court for his arraignment on Thursday.
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