TAMPA, Fla. — A Brandon man was arrested after he called the Florida Highway Patrol dispatch center and threatened to shoot a trooper who was going too fast when passing his vehicle.
James Keister Jr., 43, called in on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. saying "he would shoot the trooper if he saw him again" and provided his name, phone number and asked to speak with a supervisor, according to a news release by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The trooper was speeding past him because he was conducting speed enforcement and spotted a motorcycle going too fast and overtook him on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Pinellas County.
A trooper contacted Keister and told him his threats were a criminal offense, and Keister said he didn't care and would go to jail for it, according to the release.
Law enforcement located Keister after asking his company where his location was since he was in a work vehicle with GPS monitoring.
He was found and arrested at Williams Park Boat Ramp in Hillsborough County. Deputies said Keister is a convicted felon and documented gang member.
He was booked into jail and is facing charges of felony possession of a concealed handcuff key, felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device and two counts of felony misdemeanor threatening death to the trooper.