Nathan Yedinak, a 36-year-old resident of Ocala, was arrested on June 10 following an incident in which he threatened his neighbor. He then threatened his neighbor’s son with a rifle, saying “You’re going die today if you [expletive] with me.”
The neighbors said Yedinak pulled his car into their driveway, honking. When the father came out, Yedinak allegedly started a verbal altercation about stalking and interfering with him. The unnamed neighbor said Yenidak seemed to be under the influence or not in the right state of mind. Then, the neighbor’s son came outside when he heard the noise of arguing, according to a sheriff’s report.
While the father went inside to get a bag, Yedinak allegedly pretended to get in his vehicle but instead pulled out a rifle and pointed it at the son. Yedinak later admitted to police that he went to the victims’ home to confront them about allegedly stalking him, believing that they were working for the FBI and CIA.
The neighbors stated that they didn’t know Yedinak personally, and said they have been fearful of him since the incident. It is unclear why Yedinak believed the neighbors were targeting him. A search conducted by Newsweek of their two addresses shows they are in the nearby vicinity, but not next-door neighbors.
Yedinak initially denied having any weapons inside his home when a sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene shortly after the incident. He told police at that time he believed his neighbors had been hacking into his digital devices, and that this was somehow connected to a recent amber alert in the area, according to the report.
Later, when Yedinak admitted to police his intention in confronting his neighbors, he also admitted possession of the rifle. Yedinak told police that during the altercation, the father went inside to get a bag, and the son allegedly became more irate and approached him. Yenidak stated he went back into the vehicle to show the son his rifle, the report said.
Yenidak escorted police into his home to retrieve the rifle, as well as one other weapon. He confirmed to the police that the rifle was the gun he used to threaten his neighbor.
After his arrest, Yenidak was taken to Marion County Jail and his bond was set at $10,000. A representative from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with Newsweek Friday that Yenidak had not made bail and was still housed in the Marion County Jail.
Update (6/18/2021, 11:44 p.m.): This story has been updated to include a response from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
