Police were called to the Florida home of Brad Parscale Sunday after the well-known Trump campaign operative allegedly threatened to harm himself.
Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Karen Dietrich told The Sun Sentinel that the “encounter” was brief and without additional incident.
“We went out and it was very short. We went and got him help,” the police chief said.
The arrest was made under the Baker Act, which empowers authorities to arrest someone who could be a threat to themselves or others.
However The Sentinel added that Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, a Democrat, said he received a text “saying that there was a SWAT team standoff at Parscale’s home.”
“It was indicated to me that he had weapons,” Trantalis told the news outlet.
The Sentinel continued:
Trantalis could not confirm it was the same Parscale associated with Trump but said he knows Trump’s former campaign manager does have a home in Fort Lauderdale.
“Politics aside, this fellow obviously suffers from emotional distress,” said Trantalis.
Reaction from both sides of the aisle flooded social media.
The Biden-Harris campaign war room tweeted their well-wishes to the Parscales: “Regardless of the differences we have in our beliefs, we at the Biden War Room hope that Brad Parscale is safe, is with his family, and gets everything that he needs to get better.”
This field is tough. It takes its toll on people in unfathomable ways. Regardless of the differences we have in our beliefs, we at the Biden War Room hope that Brad Parscale is safe, is with his family, and gets everything that he needs to get better.
— Biden War Room (Text JOIN to 30330) (@BidenWarRoom) September 28, 2020
Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, a close friend of Parscale, tweeted that although he had no additional information, he does “plan to pray for him through whatever it is he’s facing.”
Brad Parscale is a good man and a personal friend. He's always been kind and has taken an unfair beating from the left in this country. I have not spoken to him since this news broke and I've no more details. I do, however plan to pray for him through whatever it is he's facing.
— Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) September 28, 2020
Meanwhile, Trump campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh issued a statement supporting his former boss, adding, “The disgusting, personal attacks from Democrats and disgruntled RINOs have gone too far, and they should be ashamed of themselves for what they’ve done to this man and his family.”
Statement from @realDonaldTrump Campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh pic.twitter.com/NKuJrtmImz
— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) September 28, 2020
Commonly known in Florida as “The Baker Act,” the Florida Mental Health Act was passed in 1971. Its provisions guide the voluntary and involuntary detainment and treatment of individuals suffering a mental crisis. Typically, the initial detainment is 24 hours from the time a person his taken into custody.
This is a developing story.
