Melbourne Beach Man Arrested For Threats Against Police Chief (John Stewart)

Well, I have to say that this particular story, which appeared in the Brevard Times, knocked me for a loop. Many reprographers have met John Stewart and he is widely known in the “instant printing” industry. Several years ago, John Stewart assisted the IRgA with a benchmarking survey. But, I met John, just once, many, many years ago, when he was the owner (and working at) Rockville Instant Printing, on Rockville, Pike, Rockville, MD. (At the time, back in the 70’s, we owned two different businesses, one called Allied Reproduction Service and the other called Hot Off The Press.) I’m sure I have a number of industry friends who know John. John offers consulting services to firms in the imaging industry. With respect to the article, sounds to me like John was majorly pissed off!

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

Melbourne Beach Man Arrested For Threats Against Police Chief

MELBOURNE BEACH and SANFORD, Florida - The Brevard County Sheriff's Office arrested 68-year-old John Carnduff Stewart of Melbourne Beach, Florida on a Seminole County Sheriff's Office warrant for one count of written threats to kill or do bodily injury, a second degree felony on Friday.

The Seminole Sheriff's Office began investigating Thursday after Stewart sent a threatening email to Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, who is at the center of controversy in the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case, with the subject line “Coming after you.”

Stewart’s email advised that he had multiple weapons and that Lee and his family should be killed. The email also suggested he would harm local police officers. The email was sent to Chief Lee’s work account at 8:23 a.m. Thursday. It was signed by Stewart and listed his home address and a phone number. Investigators obtained a subpoena for the IP address of the computer from which the email was sent and determined it was Stewart’s home residence.

Investigators executed a search warrant yesterday morning at Stewart’s residence and uncovered additional threatening emails on Stewart’s computer. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant and arrested Stewart at his residence without incident. Stewart admitted to sending the email to Chief Lee.

Police say that Stewart is known to authorities in Brevard County for prior instances of threatening communications and was previously investigated by the Penn State University Police Department for making threats against Assistant Football Coach Mike McQueary. Stewart was booked into the Brevard County Jail on a $10,000 bond and was transported to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County to be placed on electronic monitoring, pursuant to the conditions of his bond.

His bond conditions also prohibit him from possessing or using a computer, cell phone, or any other device that can be used to send or receive emails. Stewart was also prohibited from having any contact with Chief Lee or his family, or from coming within 1,500 feet of the Sanford Police Department. Police say the actions of John Stewart clearly were both a threat to the Lee family and to the safety of the community.

Stewart has a website called www.quickconsultant.com where he has several You Tube videos about the printing industry. His business address is listed as 2110 South Dairy Rd., Melbourne, FL 32904

Here's one of the comments someone posted about the article and John:

AnonymousMar 25, 2012 09:29 PM

John Stewart has always stuck his neck out to make a point. If we look at how clearly he identified himself and his location, and how peacefully he allowed himself to be arrested, it should be obvious that his was not a cogent threat. But it did certainly justify his arrest. Just as the killing of Trayvon Martin justifies the arrest of George Zimmerman. That's certainly the point Stewart was trying to make. I've known John and his usually humorous vengeful fantasies for years. Of this carefully worded not-really-a-threat email, and as the above commenter alluded, it's all bluster. While he may have gone too far this time, I give him credit for the strength and courage of conviction that allowed himself this risky action, as I've always given him credit for being an intelligent, well-informed, and well-meaning individual with well-reasoned beliefs. John's email was an empassioned, angry outcry over an immense injustice, and NOT an act of intended violence. Of this I am as certain as can be.