Virginia man jailed after agents said he threatened to kill Brevard Sheriff Ivey, family
A 20-year-old Virginia man turned himself in at the Brevard County jail after investigators said he threatened Sheriff Wayne Ivey following Ivey's viral warning that unruly protesters at demonstrations who threw bricks or pointed guns at deputies would be killed "graveyard dead."
A warrant for the man's arrest was issued by Brevard Circuit Judge Steve Henderson June 17 after comments on Facebook Messenger, containing threats to kill Ivey and his family in Brevard, were obtained by investigators, jail and court records show.
Jacob Alexander Devan of Ashburn, Virginia, was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex about 5 p.m. June 25, and charged with written, electronic threat to kill, harm another aggravated assault, harm to a public servant or family, simple assault and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, jail records show.
It was not immediately known if Devan had any previous connections to Brevard County or knew Ivey — the county's top law enforcement officer — before the sheriff's June 12 statements were made ahead of the June 14 "No Kings" rallies taking place across the state. It was also unclear how the sheriff's office learned of the possible threats. The sheriff's office did not immediately reply to an inquiry from FLORIDA TODAY about the case.
Devan will go before a Brevard County judge June 26 for a bond hearing. He remained in jail on a no bond status, according to jail records.
The timing of the threats came after Ivey — who has a history of tough-talking comments about crime, immigration and juvenile crime — made the statements during a June 12 press conference in Titusville with Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier. Standing at a podium bearing a "Florida: The Anti-Riot State" sign, the two discussed steps the state would take to punish violent offenders, while endorsing the right of peaceful protest.
Ivey's controversial statements — described as 'dangerous and authoritarian,' by groups like Change.Org and "dystopian" by others — drew widespread national attention, support from some conservative quarters and criticism from others, including pop musician Lizzo.
Peaceful protests, Ivey said, 'are part of our democracy — we invite people to share their opinions. That's what our country is all about. The key word in that is 'peaceful.' And if it's peaceful, us and law enforcement are going to make sure you have a safe environment to do it in. That's part of that process."
But "if you let it turn violent, you do not want to do that in Brevard County," he said.
'Throw a brick, a firebomb or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you graveyard dead," said Ivey, who was elected to his fourth term in 2024.
"We're not going to play.'
Dozens of "No Kings" demonstrations — aimed at protesting President Trump's policies, immigration raids and deployment of National Guard troopers to Los Angeles — took place across the nation on June 14, including two in Brevard County. There were no reported issues with the Brevard demonstrations, which collectively drew between 3,000 and 4,000 people, according to organizers.
But Ivey's comments continued to draw ire nationally and followed on the heels of Gov. Ron DeSantis stating publicly that Florida residents could use their cars to hit protesters if they felt threatened, referring to a 2021 law passed in the wake of nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd.
Ivey later elaborated to FOX News 35 that his warnings about deadly force were aimed at any violent protesters who would put others at risk during the demonstrations.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Or X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Virginia man jailed; agents said he threatened Brevard Sheriff Ivey
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