An Ocala man was arrested after allegedly threatening via text message to stab his sister in the jugular.
An officer responded to written threats being made at PepperTree Apartments, 3793 Pepper Tree Lane, at 6:40 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. The sister of 29-year-old Keyonte Deon Rawlings advised that he created a group chat with her and their father, to whom he sent threatening texts.
She stated Rawlings had recently applied to work at her apartment complex, which led her to believe he had access to her residence. She feared for her safety due to his repeated threats to harm her, and his potential access heightened her concern that he might act on these threats, the report said.
The first message she showed the officer read: “I’ll be responsible for your seven-day notice.” This was what led her to believe he had been employed at PepperTree Apartments.
The last included a threat to “stab” her in the “jugular,” having her daughter call the police for the “homicide.” His sister believed he was mentally unstable, and she was uncertain what he might be capable of. She thought he would act on the threats if he saw her in person, the report said.
The officer later responded to Extended Stay America, located at 4867 Inspiration Drive, to find Rawlings. He knew why law enforcement was there and stated the FBI was already investigating him about a threatening email he allegedly sent to his sister’s employer. When told why the officer was there now, he retrieved his phone to open the group chat with himself, his sister and their father, the report said.
Rawlings then admitted that he started the group chat and sent the messages. He did this because he was upset with his sister and wanted to “get under her skin.” He stated this behavior came from what he described as an undiagnosed bipolar disorder. He added that he and his sister had an ongoing hostile relationship, and this was how they commonly communicated with one another, the report said.
Once arrested, he made a phone call to an individual listed in his phone at “Partner in Crime.” He freely told this person that he was being arrested for threatening to stab his sister in the jugular, the report said.
A later check of his criminal history determined he had a prior conviction for assault out of Hillsborough County on Sept. 19, 2023, the report said.
Rawlings was charged with intimidation. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center with bond set at $20,000.