State Attorney Dave Aronberg announced the filing of a criminal charge against a Maryland man who local police observed spreading messages of hate in our community, part of a disturbing recent wave of antisemitic incidents. The State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Nicholas Alan Bysheim, 33, on a charge of resisting an officer without violence, over a Jan. 21 encounter in the city of Atlantis. The first-degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Atlantis Police said Bysheim refused to provide identification when officers sought to issue a citation for littering after the defendant threw the antisemitic fliers on homeowners’ properties. Florida law allows police to detain individuals for the purpose of obtaining IDs to write citations.

“This individual came into our community to cause harm and now is being held accountable,” Aronberg said. “Although distributing messages of hate is not illegal, it is a crime to refuse to provide identification to a law enforcement officer investigating a littering violation. We will continue to hold individuals accountable who violate our laws.”

A case disposition hearing is scheduled for Friday in county court.