SIX MILE — Following an online tirade against local law enforcement, a Six Mile man was arrested and charged with threatening the life of a public official.
According to arrest warrants, Joey William Woodall, 38, of 102 Six Mile Heights Drive, was arrested on Thursday after posting threatening messages to Facebook.
“when I get pissed off and start shooting pickens county kkkops don’t say I didn’t warn ya,”(sic) Woodall wrote on his page.
“The investigation was initiated Thursday, June 8, 2017, pursuant to the Sheriff’s Office being notified of two postings made on a personal Facebook page earlier the same date for the public to view,” said PCSO Chief Deputy Creed Hashe. “He was booked into the Pickens County Detention Center and immediately transferred to the Oconee County Detention Facility.”
Woodall’s Facebook page has been suspended by the social media site on at least one prior occasion, prompting him to create secondary accounts.
In addition, he had been banned or blocked from commenting on several local Facebook pages including the PCSO and the School District of Pickens County — the latter of which he was banned for using offensive language.
“ahh the benefits of being blocked and having to start a new facebook..i can once again comment on Pickens County Sherrifs Office (expletive) posts..” (sic) he wrote on the day of his arrest.
After he was blocked on his secondary account, Woodall followed up by then posting “look at these sorry (expletive) blocking me again. i hope someone shoots all yall sorry (expletive) losers starting with rick clark.” (sic)
Woodall was arrested without incident at a business that night.
Making arrests for threats on social media is a relatively tricky area for local enforcement, especially following the 2015 Supreme Court decision that overturned a man’s conviction and 44-month sentence for making graphic online threats against his wife.
In that case, Elonis v. United States, the SCOTUS decided the prosecution had failed to prove intent.
Woodall is currently detained pending transportation back to Pickens County for a bond hearing yet to be scheduled.