the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, a 53-year-old North Jersey man, identified as Russ Semeran, was arrested on Sunday, May 18, in Walton County, Florida, for allegedly making terroristic threats against New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Semeran, a former Mahwah EMS volunteer and commodities trader with ties to Mahwah and Allendale, was wanted by the New Jersey State Police Counter Terrorism Bureau. Authorities say he threatened to kill Gov. Murphy and had previously posted photos of weapons on social media, tagging local law enforcement agencies.
Arrest Made by U.S. Marshals Task Force
The U.S. Marshals Task Force, along with deputies from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, apprehended Semeran after conducting a traffic stop on Phillips Drive in Freeport, FL. He was riding a motorcycle at the time and was arrested without incident.
“Semeran was wanted by the New Jersey State Police Counter Terrorism Bureau out of New Jersey for terroristic threats where he threatened to kill Governor Phil Murphy,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Office stated.
He is currently being held at the Walton County Jail and awaits extradition to New Jersey.
Social Media Activity Raised Red Flags
Officials say Semeran’s threatening behavior escalated on social media. Earlier this month, he reportedly:
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Posted images of firearms to Instagram.
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Tagged the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mahwah Police Department.
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Shared screenshots of communications with NJ State Police, who had asked him to stop including state officials in ongoing investigations.
Vehicles Impounded in Ongoing Investigation
As part of the arrest operation, law enforcement also impounded three vehicles:
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A motorcycle (used during arrest)
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A black SUV
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An RV
All vehicles were transported to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.
Background and Employment
According to his LinkedIn profile, Semeran is the:
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Executive Vice President of Q01
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Founder of STG Commodities Inc.
He also volunteered with Mahwah EMS before separating from the organization in March 2025, officials confirmed.
Key Takeaways:
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Russ Semeran, 53, was arrested in Florida on May 18 for making terroristic threats against NJ Governor Phil Murphy.
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New Jersey State Police had been actively seeking him through their Counter Terrorism Bureau.
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His social media activity included photos of weapons and direct tags to law enforcement agencies.
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He is currently being held in Walton County Jail pending extradition.
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Multiple vehicles were seized during the arrest.
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