"This is why": Elon Musk reacts to arrest of Yorkshireman over Florida gun photo
Elon Musk has reacted to the arrest of a Yorkshire IT contractor in connection with a social media photograph the man posted of himself holding a gun in the United States.
The Yorkshire Post reported on Saturday that Jon Richelieu-Booth had been arrested by West Yorkshire Police and investigated for an allegation of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and a further allegation of stalking, after a complaint was made about a picture of himself holding a shotgun in Florida.
He said the complaint was linked to an ongoing business dispute. He said the post he made, which saw the photo attached to a lengthy message about his day and work activities that included a reference to the dispute but did not name any party, contained nothing he considered threatening.
No charges were brought over either offence but Mr Richelieu-Booth was charged by police with a separate public order offence.
He said that he understands that charge related to a different social media post, with a date of August 18 given on the charge made against him.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said he was not clear what post he was being charged in relation to and does not recall being questioned by police about any specific post made on that date.
He had been due to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court on November 25 charged with an offence of displaying ‘any writing/sign/visible representation with intent to cause harassment/alarm or distress’. The offence carries a potential prison sentence of up to six months.
But on November 18, one day after The Yorkshire Post had applied to attend the court hearing remotely, the CPS said the case was being discontinued “because there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
The story has now received global attention, with world’s richest man and X owner Mr Musk reposted a summary of the story to his 229 million followers on the social media platform, writing: “And this is why we have the first and second amendments in America.”
The first amendment in the US protects freedom of speech, while the second amendment relates to the right to bear arms.
Mr Richelieu-Booth said: “I woke up on Sunday to stacks of messages telling me that Mr Musk had tweeted out the article about my arrest and I was absolutely floored.
"When the world’s richest man tweets out your picture, you know there’s going to be some real traction and I just hope it shines a light on how Orwellian this whole matter has been. I have a feeling this is going to go far and I pray it forces change.”
West Yorkshire Police had initially refused to comment on The Yorkshire Post’s story but subsequently issued a statement.
A police spokesperson said: “Police received a complaint of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, relating partly to social media posts, several of which included pictures of a male posing with a variety of firearms which the complainant took to be a threat. Police investigated and charged a man with a public order offence but the case was then discontinued by the CPS.”
Mr Richelieu-Booth said in response to the police statement that he was only questioned by officers about the shotgun post but provided links to two similar earlier LinkedIn posts which included him pictured with guns on the Florida trip.
He said he does not believe the offence he was charged with can relate to either of the earlier posts as they were not from the August 18 date stated in the now discontinued charge.
West Yorkshire Police was contacted for further comment.