JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An adult son and his parents were arrested Thursday in Spring Park after death threats were made against a city code enforcement officer, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
News4Jax has learned that David Han, 38, faces charges of making threatening/harassing phone calls and simple assault on a law enforcement officer.
His parents, Ben and Maria Han, were also arrested.
Ben Han appeared in court Friday morning, and his bond was set at $50,000 for felony battery on a law enforcement officer and $25,000 for resisting an officer.
He must surrender any firearms or ammunition. He will next be in court Sept. 8.
Maria Han made her first appearance Friday afternoon and was ordered held on $100,000 bond.
David Han was not in court Friday, because he is still in the hospital following the incident.
A city of Jacksonville code enforcement officer cited a property on Wednesday and the homeowners' 38-year-old son, David Han, then called the agency and the individual officer, making threats, JSO Lt. Jimmy Judge said. One of the citations was for trash in the yard.
Officers were then called just before 3 p.m. Thursday to a home on Muncy Road near Emerson Street after more threats were made.
Two officers were met out front by Ben and Maria Han. The couple tried to intervene and attacked the officers, Judge said.
Police said they were able to subdue the couple without causing injuries to them or officers.
Around the same time, David Han came outside, yelling that he was going to shoot the officers, Judge said.
Police called for back up after investigators suspected there were guns in the home, Judge said. David Han retreated back inside the home, where he remained for about 40 minutes, until a negotiator talked him out of the house, according to the Sheriff's Office.
He was taken into custody without incident, Judge said. One gun and ammunition were found in the house.
Ben and Maria Han were arrested on charges of battery on law enforcement and all three were taken to the Duval County Jail, Judge said.
When David Han was put into a cruiser, he kept yelling at the police, “It’s OK, I will get out of jail. I will have something for you all. Come to my house again, and we will see what happens. We will kill them all when I get out," the arrest report said.
News4Jax spoke with Han's brother who said his parents are from Romania and that there may have been a language barrier during the incident.
"My brother heard screaming and stuff. And when he came out of the house, he saw a police officer beating up on my 60-year-old parents. Yes, he got a little hotheaded. He might have threatened them. They pointed a gun at him and he ran back inside and didn't come back out," Richard Han said. "When you see your parents being beaten like dogs, I would have done the same thing."
Police recommended that all three undergo mental health evaluations.