PLANT CITY — Spectrum asked a court for a protection order against a video game player who is accused of posting an image of a gun and making online threats against the cable company over slow internet speeds.

The threats led the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to arrest Torey Frank Bronson, 29, of Plant City, on a charge of making a false report concerning the use of firearms. But a judge denied Spectrum's request for a protection order, saying Florida law does not authorize such a directive for a corporation — only for an individual. The request was filed Dec. 3 by Spectrum owner Charter Communications on behalf of the "Senior Manager, Corporate Security" at the company's St. Petersburg Carrillon office.

The case arises from two Facebook posts by Bronson on Nov. 21, according to the Spectrum petition. One is laced with expletives and threatens to shoot any Spectrum employee who comes down Bronson's road, and one accompanies a photo of a hand on a pistol with the message, "She itchin. Needs a silencer tho. But no such thing as a quite job."

The same day as the posts appeared, a deputy interviewed Bronson, according to the petition. Bronson admitted to making the threat, the petition says, "as a result of what he perceived to be slow internet speeds caused by Spectrum/Charter, which was negatively affecting his ability to play an online combat game."

A week later, on Nov. 29, Bronson was arrested on a warrant at his home, 3906 Young Road in Plant City, according to Sheriff's Office records. He was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and released after posting bond.

The offense is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Bronson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Spectrum says in its petition for a protection order that the Sheriff's Office investigation remains open and that Bronson still has access to weapons.

His earlier Facebook posts raise questions about his safety and the safety of others, the petition says, including one that says he hates life and another showing a live stream from the Aug. 26 shootings at Jacksonville Landing where two were killed and nine injured during a video game tournament.