A New York man was arrested on Friday for allegedly threatening former President George W. Bush, ABCNews.com reported.
Benjamin Smith, 44, was discovered with a rifle, machete, gasoline, and two boxes of ammonization after authorities arrested him in Manhattan. According to police, he yelled "Bush will get his" after being detained.
Smith's mother tipped law enforcement off on Thursday after discovering a note her son wrote at their home in Pittsburgh, N.Y.
"I'm going to work for George W. Bush and the pentagon," the note read. "I have to slay a dragon and Barbara Bush is mine. America is finished."
His mother also notified police that a rifle was missing from their home.
After secret service officials were able to track his cell phone in Manhattan, they located Smith and detained him around 6 a.m. In the criminal complaint, authorities wrote Smith was obsessed with the former president's daughter, Barbara Bush.
"I am divorced and not currently seeing anyone but I am working on a relationship with Barbara Bush," Smith said when asked about his marital status.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Grisworld told U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman in a hearing on Friday that the government believes Smith had a fixation with Barbara Bush, who lives in New York City.
Smith allegedly laughed out loud during the hearing whenever Grisworld read aloud the "slay the dragon" line of his note, according to the New York Daily News.
However, Smith's lawyer, Peggy Cross-Goldenberg, argued that the note did not result in a "true threat."
"As far as I can tell George W. Bush is not in New York City," she said. "It would be different if we were in Texas near George Bush's ranch."
Pitman said it was "unclear" if Smith would be convicted by a jury.