DeLand man arrested for threatening Volusia Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Crew

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

A DeLand resident known for his history of threatening the Volusia Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew has been apprehended once again after a distressing incident at the Air One hangar. Robert Moni, 59, who resides on Newport Avenue in DeLand, was taken into custody on three counts of aggravated stalking after the most recent encounter with Moni occurred on Saturday at the Air One hangar, where he approached the crew and staff, unleashing a tirade of screaming and aggressive behavior.

At one point, Moni positioned himself in front of the building, persistently shouting threats while a crew member was in the parking lot with his family. Moni targeted the Sheriff’s Office employees, branding them as evil and ominously stating, “The devil is going to kill you, and I am going to help.”

Volusia County Sheriff's Office is familiar with Moni due to past encounters with the Air One crew, some of which were rooted in Moni’s belief that helicopters were part of a conspiracy aimed at spying on him or causing him concussions by flying over his residence.

This disturbing incident is not the first time Moni has found himself on the wrong side of the law concerning such threats, like in 2018, when he threatened to shoot down Air One after contacting an Orlando news station.

Following his latest episode, Moni was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on Sunday night, where he remains without bond, awaiting his first appearance before the court.