Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Jonathan Edward Blaine (Arrested)
DOB: 08/15/1984
Address: 2676 Rachel Court, Palm Harbor
Charges: One count of False Report Concerning Planting a Bomb, an Explosive, or a Weapon of Mass Destruction, or Concerning the Use of Firearms in a Violent Manner

Pet Supermarket
32560 US Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor

What:
Deputies arrest man for threatening to stab and shoot employees at a Pet Supermarket in Palm Harbor.

When:
The incident occurred at about 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

Where:
The incident initially began at the Pet Supermarket located at 32560 US Highway 19 North, in Palm Harbor.

Why/How:
At about 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, deputies were called to the Pet Supermarket located at 32560 US Highway 19 North, in Palm Harbor, for a report of a harassing phone call.

When deputies arrived at the business, they were informed by the store manager that the business was closed as a safety precaution due to verbal threats they received from a customer.

Witnesses told deputies that at about 5:15 p.m., a known customer identified as 34-year-old Jonathan Blaine, entered the store and tried purchasing pet food using a mobile online payment app. When employees informed the Blaine that they no longer accepted that type of payment, he became verbally argumentative and irate.

Witnesses said Blaine’s behavior escalated to the point that employees asked nearby customers to move to the back of the store as a safety precaution.

Blaine eventually left the store after causing a disturbance.  

At about 5:45 p.m., the store manager received a phone call from the Pet Supermarket corporate office informing her that Blaine called customer service and made threats to stab or shoot someone at the business.   

Blaine told customer service employees over the phone that he would stab or shoot someone if he came back to the store. Blaine also told employees that if it wasn’t for his girlfriend someone would have been shot.

Deputies located Blaine at his Palm Harbor residence where he admitted to the allegations.

Blaine denied owning any weapons; however, deputies took a handgun that was in the home for safe keeping. The handgun belonged to Blaine’s live-in-girlfriend.

Blaine was arrested and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Blaine was charged with one count of False Report Concerning Planting a Bomb, an Explosive, or a Weapon of Mass Destruction, or Concerning the Use of Firearms in a Violent Manner.

Due to the nature of the threats, deputies filed for a Risk Protection Order against Blaine.

On May 21, 2019, detectives assisted the U.S. Secret Service with an unrelated investigation after Blaine called the U.S. Department of State and referenced the President before making verbal threats towards Congress. Detectives say Blaine was upset with the length of time it was taking to resolve issues with his passport. Blaine told detectives he was joking and claimed he had no intentions of following through with it.

The investigation continues.  

Blaine booking photo.