Federal agents arrested a 72-year-old man in Cape Coral on Thursday morning as part of a Homeland Security investigation.
Joseph Giancola is accused of making threats against law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Anna Giancola, Joseph’s daughter, shared with WINK News that her family was terrified when Homeland Security arrived at their home located on Chiquita Boulevard.
According to Anna, agents surrounded the property and arrested her father for his alleged social media threats.
“I had heard ‘get on the floor,’ and I tried to go around the window, because I didn’t know if I was gonna get shot,” said Anna Giancola.
Anna explained that agents entered the home and searched through her belongings.
“I had no clue if I was gonna get shot because there’s lasers on me,” she said. “So came to the front door, and as I came to the front door, there’s this rod sticking through my door, which I have video of it, Rod sticking through my door, and I still have no idea what’s going on, and there’s just flashes.”
WINK News contacted the Department of Homeland Security regarding this investigation. A representative responded with, “I’m working to get some information put together for this search warrant this morning.”
Nicholas Karsen is a Digital Specialist and has been with WINK News since May 2023.