NORCROSS, Georgia — A man whose angry tirade at a Social Security office in Norcross was shared widely online was arrested this week after police say his behavior crossed the line from hateful words to criminal conduct. The disturbing video that captured the confrontation drew attention not just for the harsh language used, but for how casually it unfolded where families and children could see it.
It all started on January 14 at the Social Security Administration office on Shackleford Road in Gwinnett County. Witnesses inside the building recorded a white man repeatedly hurling threats, expletives and racial slurs at a security guard and others nearby. The footage shows the man’s voice rising as he berates the guard, at moments taunting him to “take a shot” and threatening to “kick the s***” out of him while a crowd of onlookers stood by in disbelief.
Employees at the office later identified the man in the video as 65-year-old Robert John Burke. Witnesses told police that Burke was making threats and verbally abusing several people inside the office, and that children were present during his outburst. Because he had already left the scene by the time officers arrived, deputies from the Gwinnett County Police Department obtained a warrant charging him with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Rather than staying away, Burke resurfaced the next day at the Courtyard Marriott on Venture Parkway in Duluth, where police were called to respond to another disturbance involving him. Officers say an employee at the hotel described Burke as hostile and disruptive, prompting deputies to take him into custody.
Once in custody, Burke reportedly resisted initial attempts to leave his hotel room but eventually complied with officers’ orders. Court documents related to the arrest say he faces disorderly conduct charges in connection with both incidents. Police say Burke has a history of causing disturbances at the Social Security office, and that video from this latest episode added urgency to their response.
The video has since spread across social media, drawing tens of thousands of views and sparking heated reactions. Some commenters have condemned the racist language, noting how alarming it was to hear such vitriol in a public space. Others have mischaracterized the incident online, amid broader debates about free speech and public behavior. Experts note that while the First Amendment protects many forms of expression, it doesn’t shield speech that amounts to threats or provokes immediate violence.
Burke was booked, had his mug shot taken, and was released on bond pending a court appearance. The case continues to unfold as prosecutors review the charges tied to both the Norcross office and the hotel episode.
