FLORIDA CITY, FL — Florida City police say a former member of the department was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot officers, city officials and the station where she once worked. Investigators identified the suspect as 54-year-old Rocquel Lovet McCray.
Police said the threats began on social media and then continued when McCray contacted the department directly. Officers later found her at a local restaurant and took her into custody after they say she resisted.
The department said the case involved threats aimed at the station, individual officers and city officials. Jail records later tied McCray to multiple charges related to the alleged threats and the resistance arrest.
Police say threats began online before a direct call to dispatch
According to Florida City police, the first concerns came from threats posted on social media. Those messages were brought to law enforcement’s attention and prompted an investigation.
Police say McCray then called the Florida City Police Department herself and made additional threats while speaking with a dispatcher. Investigators say she threatened to shoot at the station during that call.
Officials did not release the exact words used or say what may have motivated the threats. The department’s account focused on the alleged danger to the station and the people who work there.
Former officer traveled from Jacksonville to South Florida before arrest
Police say McCray’s travel helped investigators piece together the timing of the case. The department said she traveled from Jacksonville to South Florida shortly before the threats continued.
In a post on Instagram, Florida City police said McCray arrived at Miami International Airport on September 10 and then used a private transportation service to reach Florida City. Police said that sequence happened before the arrest the next day.
Authorities have not said why she came to the area. The department also has not released any details about whether officers were already watching for her after the online and phone threats.
Florida City police say McCray once worked for the department until 2019
The department identified McCray as a former Florida City police officer whose employment ended in 2019. Police did not say what rank she held, how long she worked there or why her job ended.
That history added an unusual layer to the case because the threats were directed at the same department where she had previously served. Police said the alleged comments targeted both the station and city officials.
One commenter responding to the department’s announcement said McCray had once been a good officer and recalled working with her on community efforts. Police did not confirm those personal claims, and they were not part of the agency’s formal account.
Arrest at a local restaurant led to resistance charges
Officers located McCray at a local restaurant shortly after the threats, according to police. Authorities say she resisted before being taken into custody.
Florida City police said the arrest followed the social media posts and the call to dispatch. The department has not said how many officers took part in the arrest or whether anyone was injured.
The case remains at the accusation stage. Prosecutors would need to prove the allegations in court, and police have not announced any additional suspects or related incidents.
Jail records list threat and resisting counts with bonds set
Miami-Dade County jail records list McCray in connection with a charge involving the threat of a public servant to influence the performance of their duties. The record lists a $2,500 bond for that count.
The same records also list a charge of threatening death or bodily harm against a law enforcement officer with a $1,000 bond. In addition, the jail entry shows three counts of resisting an officer without violence, each with a $500 bond.
The jail record was updated on September 13, two days after Florida City police announced the arrest. The entry indicated the bond had been submitted but was not yet marked satisfied at the time of the available record.
Accusations remain unresolved as McCray is presumed innocent
Police and jail records describe allegations, not findings of guilt. McCray is presumed innocent unless and until a court proves the charges.
For now, the case centers on a former officer accused of threatening the very department where she once worked, then being arrested after investigators say they tracked her to a restaurant in Florida City.
Officials have not released more information about a possible court date, any defense response or what, if anything, may have led to the dispute that prompted the threats.
