Native Dem chief arrested for hitting man with bullhorn says he's not a violent particular person

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The chair of the Hernando County, Florida , Democratic Social gathering who was arrested for allegedly hitting a person within the head with a bullhorn throughout a "No Kings" protest, stated that he didn't act as an aggressor and didn't escalate the confrontation.

Brian Stewart, 63, was charged with easy battery, a misdemeanor in Florida, and booked into the Hernando County Sheriff's Detention Heart after the incident in Spring Hill on Saturday. He was launched later that day, information present.

Stewart stated he's "not a violent particular person" and that the person he was accused of hitting — a disabled veteran recognized as Thomas Michta in police experiences — was harassing others on the demonstration "in an try to elicit a response."

"This was a peaceable occasion attended by many members of the neighborhood," Stewart advised Fox Information Digital.

FLORIDA COUNTY'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ACCUSED OF HITTING MAN IN HEAD WITH BULLHORN AT 'NO KINGS' PROTEST

Hernando County Democratic Chair Brian Stewart arrested at a protest (Hernando County Jail)

"Sadly, a person disrupted that setting and was harassing rally attendees in an try to elicit a response," he continued. "At no level did I act as an aggressor. I'm not a violent particular person, and I didn't search out or escalate any battle. I by no means anticipated that I’d be accosted or have to defend myself as I did in that second."

The incident happened as demonstrators in Hernando County and throughout the nation protested in opposition to the Trump administration's insurance policies.

Deputies responded at round 10:30 a.m. on Saturday to the intersection of Mariner and Cortez boulevards, the place Stewart allegedly struck Michta within the head with a bullhorn.

Michta advised deputies he was strolling by way of the protest when he and Stewart turned concerned in an argument. He accused Stewart of hanging him in the course of the dispute and reported being in ache, with a visual lump on his head, in keeping with an arrest affidavit, WTSP reported.

In response to the affidavit, video footage captured by a witness and reviewed by deputies confirmed Stewart utilizing a bullhorn to hit the person within the head and push him within the chest.

The incident occurred as demonstrators in Hernando County and throughout the nation protested in opposition to the Trump administration's insurance policies. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP through Getty Pictures)

After reviewing the video, a witness' assertion and Stewart's personal admissions, deputies stated they developed possible trigger to consider Stewart deliberately hit the person and prompted bodily hurt, the affidavit says.

Stewart declined to remark additional, saying his attorneys suggested him to not make extra public statements.

"I've many extra ideas to share, however my attorneys advise that I ought to defer doing so till after the case has concluded," Stewart advised Fox Information Digital. "Out of respect for the authorized course of and on the recommendation of counsel, I can't be commenting additional on the specifics of the case right now."

Stewart is scheduled to seem in court docket on April 27.

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Protesters maintain indicators and flags close to President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in the course of the "No Kings" nationwide day of protest, in Palm Seashore, Florida, on Might 28, 2026. (Giorgio VIERA / AFP through Getty Pictures)

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The Florida Democratic Social gathering and the Hernando County chapter stated in separate statements earlier this week that they "condemn violence."

"We've got been made conscious that our Chair, Brian Stewart, was arrested after responding to a provocation from an area agitator who threw a drink on him and yelled obscenities at neighborhood members throughout a protest," the Hernando County Democratic Social gathering stated in a press release to the Tampa Bay Instances.

The Florida Republican Party known as for Stewart to be eliminated as chair over the incident on the protest.

"Violence and political intimidation haven't any place in our state, and Floridians deserve higher than mere silence from Democrat management. Nikki Fried should instantly take away Brian Stewart from his place of management within the Florida Democrat Social gathering!" Florida GOP Chairman Evan Energy stated in a press release to WTSP.