A former New York Yankees pitching prospect from Freeport was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport Monday after allegedly making threats against police officers on his Instagram account.
Leonel Vinas, 26, was charged with making a terroristic threat.
Vinas had signed with the New York Yankees in 2010 and played for its minor league team the following year. The Freeport man was also attempting to start his own baseball academy for kids on Long Island and in the Dominican Republic.
Police say an off-duty Freeport police officer was scrolling through his Instagram account and found an alarming post on Vinas’ account.
In the post, Vinas talked about doing “God's work” and went on to say:
"I'm pissed at so many things and so many people. So here's a message. I am going to the Dominican Republic. The first cop that stops me is either getting shot or getting hijacked."
Investigators say by the time the officer discovered the post, more than 2,600 people had viewed it. Nineteen people liked the post.
Freeport Village Mayor Robert Kennedy says Vinas was located and arrested by Port Authority officers while attempting to depart on a flight to the Dominican Republic.
Vinas pleaded not guilty in court, but did fully admit to posting the threat. He did not explain his motivation behind the post.