Indian River: Threatening videos end in arrest

Indian River County, Fl (treasurecoast.com) -On Monday, March 8th, 2021, members of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Section became aware of a subject posting threatening videos via Facebook Live.

In the videos, two males are seen displaying firearms while standing outside of a residence. One male, later identified as Willie Hicks, made several threats towards business owners and members of the Gifford community as well as law enforcement. Hicks at one point in the video made the statement, “tell the police to come catch this” while pointing a firearm directly at the camera.

Hicks is a three-time convicted felon in the State of Florida and has 17 bookings in the Indian River County jail stretching back to 2006. Arrests include, but are not limited to battery domestic violence, shooting/throwing a deadly missile, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Detectives immediately began working to locate Hicks, the video site location, and the firearm before he took any violent action. A search warrant was secured as a result.

On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, members of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team in conjunction with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed said search warrant at Hicks’ residence. Located inside the residence was the same firearm displayed by Hicks in the aforementioned Facebook Live videos.

Hicks was located and detained on scene. During questioning, Hicks was asked about his threats and if he intended on carrying them out. His response was simply, “Nah, I was just having fun.”

Hicks was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The other male in the videos has since been identified. Additional charges are pending further investigation.