An out-of-state man was arrested in Central Florida for threats to a well-known internet personality.
The Central Florida investigation began when Kaitlin Bennett contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office about an Instagram post on a Lakeland account by someone using the name “erikhoudini,” which said, he was shocked that “cockroaches” like Bennett “come out from under the countertops after we sniped (Charlie) Kirk.” He then told Bennett to be careful with her mouth.
The comment read: “Hey Kaitlin, Heard you were talking shit, at least it didn’t come out of your ass this time. I’m shocked cockroaches like @kait.meow still come out from under the countertops after we sniped Kirk. Lakeland is my city, careful with your mouth.”
Bennett followed a link to erikhoudini’s account on the Discord platform. On his account, she found more comments he made about her, his intent to locate Bennett at one of her events, and additional comments that glorified the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
As a part of Kaitlin Bennett’s public advocacy, she engages in a similar type of “man-on-the-street” interviews that Charlie Kirk did prior to his murder.
Due to the totality of circumstances, Bennett became fearful that there was a legitimate danger for her to go out into public, specifically in Lakeland.
PCSO detectives were able to connect the erikhoudini Instagram account and Discord account, and to Texas addresses in Austin and San Antonio.
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Texas man for comments he made online to well-known internet personality Kaitlin Bennett.
29-year-old Erik Michael David Ebbesen was arrested at the Relax Inn of Lakeland in Central Florida. He was charged with: Written Threats to Kill and Unlawful Use of 2-Way Communication Device.
Through their investigation, they also found selfies and videos that Ebbessen had posted online that showed him on Massachusetts Avenue in Lakeland, which is one block away from where the Lakeland Farmer’s Market is often held. Bennett had a much-publicized confrontation with a representative of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority over Bennett’s appearance at the Farmer’s Market in May of 2025.
At the time of his arrest, Ebbessen said he didn’t mean any harm or any threat from the post, but realized it was “a little too far.” Ebbessen said he likes to press the boundaries of his First Amendment right, and realized he may have “pressed too hard and crossed a boundary.” Ebbessen admitted that his reference to the Charlie Kirk assassination was inappropriate and that his continued posts of wanting to locate and confront Kaitlin in public could be seen as threatening. He said there was no excuse for making the post, and stated he realized he was likely overly upset and under stress at the time.
“Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our constitutional republic, so when you try to intimidate or threaten someone else’s right to free speech, that’s a problem,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Erik Ebbesen admitted to our Cyber Crimes detectives that he went ‘a little too far,’ and he had, ‘crossed a boundary.’ By him being in Lakeland where Bennett has had some high profile appearances, we were concerned he was aiming to go even further.”
