Most law enforcement officials would send deputies to handle a dangerous suspect.
But Sheriff Mike Chitwood isn’t most officials.
And the Florida sheriff just delivered the ultimate comeback to a man who threatened his life.
Death threats don’t intimidate this tough sheriff
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has never been one to back down from a fight.
So when Matthew Moulton decided to send him threatening emails from across the country, Chitwood made sure the 45-year-old Washington man learned a valuable lesson about consequences.
The trouble started back in March when Moulton got upset about Sheriff Chitwood’s controversial policy of publicly shaming students who make false school shooting threats.
Chitwood has made headlines for posting mug shots and “perp walk” videos of students who create panic with bogus threats against schools.
The sheriff believes this public humiliation serves as a deterrent to other students who might consider pulling similar stunts.
But Moulton from College Place, Washington, didn’t appreciate the sheriff’s tough-love approach to keeping schools safe.
On March 20, Moulton fired off an email to Sheriff Chitwood that crossed every line imaginable.
The message was crystal clear in its violent intent: “I’m going to have to threaten you with death. It’s coming. There’s nothing you can do to stop it.”
Most people would consider that a pretty serious threat against a law enforcement officer.
But when questioned by police at his home, Moulton tried to play it off as harmless artistic expression.
He told investigators his death threat was “satirical and artistic” and fell under his First Amendment rights.
Sheriff Chitwood wasn’t buying that excuse for even a second.
The sheriff personally greets his would-be killer
Law enforcement took Moulton’s threat seriously and began the process to bring him to Florida to face charges.
A warrant was issued, and Moulton was eventually extradited to face a second-degree felony charge for written threats to kill.
In Florida, that charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.
But here’s where Sheriff Chitwood showed exactly what kind of lawman he really is.
Instead of sending deputies to handle the prisoner transfer at Daytona Beach International Airport, Chitwood decided to welcome Moulton personally.
The sheriff positioned himself at the bottom of an escalator and waited for his would-be assassin to arrive.
When law enforcement officers escorted Moulton down the escalator in handcuffs, Sheriff Chitwood delivered a greeting that nobody expected.
“Matthew, I’m Sheriff Chitwood. I’m the guy you want to kill, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” the sheriff said with ice-cold composure. “Challenge accepted.”
The entire exchange was captured on video and shared by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Moulton tried to claim he had only sent the sheriff “a sermon,” but Chitwood wasn’t having any of it.
“But you do know in Florida, a written threat to kill is a felony? You know that, right?” the sheriff asked.
When Moulton complained about his rights being violated, Sheriff Chitwood had the perfect response ready.
“I will also tell you that you will not see Mickey Mouse on this trip, and you have to reimburse us for your flight here and for your stay at the county jail,” Chitwood told him.
The conversation continued as Moulton invoked his Christian faith and quoted Bible verses.
But Sheriff Chitwood remained unimpressed by the man’s attempts at religious justification for sending death threats.
As he escorted Moulton to the patrol car for transport to jail, the sheriff delivered one final message.
“We’ll make sure the cell has rubber in it,” Chitwood said.
We don’t nice play in Florida.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood greets male Karen who sent a threatening letter to him right at the airport escalator, and immediately takes him into custody. pic.twitter.com/E9MevBCXz2
— DK🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 (@1Nicdar) May 23, 2025
This sheriff doesn’t play games with threats
Moulton’s case highlights a disturbing trend of people thinking they can threaten law enforcement officers without facing real consequences.
According to reports, Moulton is actually the seventh person charged with threatening Sheriff Chitwood, his family, or his staff members.
The threats have come from both Florida residents and people from around the country who disagree with the sheriff’s policies.
But Sheriff Chitwood’s hands-on approach to dealing with Moulton sends a clear message to anyone else considering similar threats.
This sheriff won’t be intimidated, and he won’t hide behind his deputies when someone targets him personally.
His willingness to confront Moulton face-to-face at the airport demonstrates the kind of courage and leadership that law enforcement needs more of these days.
Moulton is currently being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $100,000 bond.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on June 19 to answer for his felony charge.
If convicted, he could spend the next 15 years in a Florida state prison thinking about why it’s never a good idea to threaten a sheriff who doesn’t back down from anyone.
Sheriff Chitwood’s bold approach to handling this threat shows that some law enforcement officers still believe in accountability and aren’t afraid to look criminals in the eye.
His message was unmistakable – threaten an officer in Volusia County, and you’ll have to answer for it personally.
