70-Year-Old Man Arrested After Video Shows Him Slapping 18-Year-Old Turning Point Volunteer at Polling Station

A heated political exchange outside a New Hampshire polling station ended with an elderly man allegedly striking an 18-year-old volunteer across the face. The confrontation was captured on video, and police have since arrested and charged the man.

The incident happened on November 3 outside Woodland Heights School in Laconia, where Turning Point Action, a conservative political advocacy group, had set up a table during Election Day.

Footage shared by the organization shows an older man confronting the young volunteer, who was helping the group engage with voters.

The two became involved in a heated argument. At one point, the man shouted that the teenager had no idea who he was and questioned how the young volunteer could suggest that he did not know much.

The 18-year-old responded that the man had not presented a single statistic to support his argument.

The exchange quickly escalated.

The older man continued shouting, raised his middle finger toward the volunteer and then appeared to slap him across the face before walking away.

Bystanders could be heard reacting in surprise as the confrontation unfolded.

Turning Point Action later shared the footage on social media, praising the teenager for remaining calm.

The organization said the volunteer had been assaulted while standing his ground and encouraged supporters not to be discouraged from participating in the political process.

The incident prompted condemnation from both major political organizations in Belknap County. The county Republican Committee said it opposed violence inside or outside the political process, while the county Democratic Committee also condemned political violence of any kind.

Police subsequently identified the suspect as Stephen Redic, 70, of Laconia.

According to the Laconia Police Department, officers reviewed video evidence and spoke with witnesses before identifying him. Redic was arrested on the morning of November 4.

He faces a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a violation-level charge of disorderly conduct. His arraignment was scheduled for December 10 in Laconia.

Police said the confrontation began after Redic approached the volunteer and reportedly wanted to read him a poem about wealthy people. A discussion followed before the situation allegedly became aggressive.

The case has renewed attention on the importance of keeping political disagreements peaceful, particularly at polling locations where people from opposing viewpoints come together to participate in elections.

Redic’s charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: DAILYMAIL