Orlando man accused of stalking, sending threats to police and local church
Neil Olson is in custody after allegedly leaving threatening voicemails and emails for a Winter Garden police captain and targeting a local church.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
An Orlando man is behind bars after allegedly stalking and threatening Winter Garden police officers and members of a local church.
Officers said Neil Olson left three threatening voicemails last week for Winter Garden Police Captain James Capeletti, with the longest message lasting nearly five minutes. In the messages, Olson cursed at the captain, called him a “dead man,” and threatened to blow up Calvary Chapel in Orlando and kill everyone inside.
Olson was arrested Tuesday and had his first court appearance Wednesday. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.
According to an affidavit, Olson has left similar voicemails in the past, including one in May directed at Calvary Chapel, where he threatened church members.
Officers said Olson’s recent threats were related to anger over a 2011 officer-involved shooting involving the captain and Sergeant James Avila.
In his voicemails, Olson accused the officers of a cover-up regarding the shooting. He also threatened to kill the sergeant and his father, a former police officer who is now a pastor at Calvary Chapel.
Earlier this month, Olson sent Avila 13 emails about the same topic over a few days.
Olson is facing charges of stalking, aggravated stalking with a credible threat, and two counts of harassing law enforcement with intent to coerce and intimidate.