STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — At the Stuart Christmas Parade, an armed man wearing a bulletproof vest was removed from the crowd after allegedly tailing Congressman Brian Mast.

On Friday night during the parade, the congressman’s personnel and Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) command staff say they were alerted to the man’s “alarming” behavior.

Deputies say the man was wearing a hat pulled over his face and many layers of clothing, despite the warm weather.

See also: Tekashi 6ix9ine sentenced to three more months in prison for assault, drug possession

After detaining him, authorities say they discovered he was armed and wearing a tactical armored plate bulletproof vest under his clothing.

They removed him from the crowded parade and transported him to the sheriff’s office, where MCSO detectives, the FBI, and the Stuart Police Department interviewed him, according to an MCSO news release.

After a thorough interview, no criminal charges were filed, as authorities found no lawful basis to charge him despite their suspicious behavior.

The sheriff’s office stated that careful planning and multiple security layers—ranging from officers and tactical teams to drones and air support—are in place for events like the Christmas Parade to keep families safe.

Comment with Bubbles

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day’s top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can’t miss video.