Massachusetts man charged with threatening Trump brandished a sword during arrest, FBI says

A Massachusetts man brandished a sword when federal agents tried to arrest him on Wednesday for allegedly making threats online against President Donald Trump, the FBI said.

Andrew D. Emerald, of Great Barrington, held “a long, metallic sword in one hand” and a “sheath to that sword in the other hand” when officers showed up at his door. The man, who is in his 40s, told agents they would have to shoot him, according to an affidavit filed Wednesday.

Emerald was ultimately arrested with the help of an FBI crisis negotiator and a local police officer who got him to voluntarily leave his residence and surrender to authorities, the affidavit said, adding that the FBI seized multiple swords and bladed weapons from Emerald’s house following his arrest.

He was charged with eight counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 if found guilty. Emerald pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday, according to court documents.

Read more: NBC News