LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man has been cited after school security says he threatened Jefferson County Public School officials, including JCPS superintendent Marty Pollio, over a disagreement about the school district's mask mandates.
According to a criminal citation, the incident took place just before 6 p.m. on Monday at the VanHoose Education Center on Newburg Road, near Gardiner Lane.
According to Jefferson County School Security, 43-year-old Bradley Linzy showed up at the building and began arguing with staff about the JCPS mask policy. Staff members told police they asked Linzy to leave several times, but he refused.
When a member of JCPS security arrived, Linzy was found with his car in the rear of the building, according to court documents. He allegedly said he was upset and admitted to having a gun inside his vehicle.
Wednesday, Linzy spoke with WDRB News saying, "I carry a firearm regardless. That's a separate thing. I have a constitutional right to carry a firearm and I do that anyway. That's not something I did just because I was going down there."
Authorities say Linzy started to leave, but when he saw JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio leave the building, he jumped out of his car and "aggressively" approached him.
The citation states Linzy followed Pollio, yelling that his life was "f***ing over," as well as his "career as you know it!"
Linzy said those are not the words he used, but did say he used expletives.
According to Jefferson County School Security, 43-year-old Bradley Linzy showed up at the VanHoose Education Center on July 12, 2021, and began arguing with staff about the JCPS mask policy.
"I said, your career is over. I said your life is over as it pertains to your career," Linzy claimed.
He went on to say, "I said cuss words, cuss words are part of my every day vernacular."
Authorities say Linzy added that, "You don't know what I'm capable of doing!"
But Linzy claims that statement was not said as a threat.
"When the security fellow ... who approached me before I approached Dr. Pollio ... asked me if I had any weapons, I said, 'Yes I do. I have a constitutional carry.' And he said, 'Where is it?' and I said, 'Right now it's under my seat,'" said Linzy. "He (security) said, 'That's fine, that's fine, I just want to make sure you're not a threat to anybody.' I was like, 'Yeah I get it, you don't know what I'm capable of and stuff like that and I totally get it.'
"That's where the statement, 'You don't know what I'm capable of' came from, because I was agreeing with the man," claimed Linzy.
Linzy said he first drove to Vanhoose after a phone call to the district, where he felt like his concerns about the latest mask policy weren't being heard.
"I was trying to get my questions answered. Like I said, I'm a concerned parent and I'm trying to get my questions answered. That's it," he said.
The latest mask policy for JCPS states that students and staff members who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks inside school buildings and buses.
Linzy said he is a parent of two, and is particularly concerned for his 10-year-old daughter, who he said is on the autism spectrum.
"She especially is being discriminated against I feel with these masks mandates I feel like because she already has a tough time sometimes feeling out when jokes aren't funny anymore and when it's time to stop talking and things like this that hinder her in her social development," said Linzy.
Linzy was cited by Jefferson County School Security. He's charged with third-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree disorderly conduct.
Linzy said he plans to run for school board. He's scheduled to appear in court on July 26.
Superintendent Pollio did not give comments directly about the incident, but told WDRB News that this current mask policy is in place for summer programming because of CDC guidance.
"Our board will make a decision on the 27th for the upcoming school year," said Pollio.
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