New Hampshire police have arrested a 70-year-old poet after he allegedly slapped a Turning Point Action member in the face outside a Laconia elementary school where voters were casting ballots Tuesday.
The Laconia Police Department said officers arrested the suspect, identified as Stephen Redic, around 8 a.m. Wednesday on charges of simple assault, a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a violation.
“We’re not familiar with him, meaning we’ve had no prior contacts,” Laconia Police Chief Matthew Canfield told Fox News Digital Wednesday.
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In a press release, Laconia police said Redic approached the Turning Point tent as he was leaving and wanted “to read a poem about rich people.” The poem isn’t included in viral video of the incident, which shows the victim attempting to debate as Redic raises his voice and grows increasingly angry.
Video of the incident shows the increasingly agitated older man shouting at the victim before giving him the middle finger, slapping him across the face and walking away.
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“You sit there and dare to look me in the face and say I don’t know anything?” the man identified as Redic says, his voice growing hoarse before he shoves his finger in the victim’s face.
“That’s what I know,” he says, before backhanding him.
A few moments later, he adds, “f— that s—,” as he storms away. People off-camera discussed calling the police.
Onlookers were audibly surprised.
Turning Point described the victim as an 18-year-old.
Redic published a book of poems in 2023, “Tying My Shoes.” In it, he boasted of meeting every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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He’s due in court on Dec. 10 for an arraignment.
It was not immediately clear whether he’d retained a lawyer as of Wednesday afternoon. He did not immediately respond to an attempt to reach him.
The slap comes 14 months after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University under a similar tent. He founded both Turning Point USA and its affiliate, Turning Point Action.
His accused killer, Tyler Robinson, is due in court Monday for a hearing that could see a trial date set. He has pleaded not guilty.