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Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting Women Over Political Dispute
A 71-year-old man from Florida has been taken into custody following an incident at a polling location where he allegedly assaulted two women during a dispute regarding political candidates.
Stuart McMillan reportedly engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the two women at approximately 12:30 p.m., leading to a physical confrontation, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities stated that McMillan is accused of pulling one woman’s flag down before grabbing her by the throat and hair. When another woman attempted to intervene, he allegedly did the same to her.
Disruption at the Polls
Details surrounding the candidates involved were not clearly specified by law enforcement. However, it has been reported that Representative Danny Alvarez, who serves Hillsborough County’s House District 69, witnessed the altercation. Alvarez, a Republican and former Army veteran, noted that the women were holding flags in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, while McMillan waved a Donald Trump flag.
According to Alvarez, the argument escalated into physical engagement, with the two sides using their flags in what appeared to be a mock swordfight before McMillan allegedly resorted to choking both women, as detailed by FloridaPolitics.com.
“It looked like they were playing swords with flags,” Alvarez remarked, expressing his concern and involvement in de-escalating the situation.
The altercation unfolded at the Fishhawk Ranch polling location near the Palmetto Club in Lithia, a suburb of Tampa. Officers indicated that all parties involved were exercising their rights to vote and free speech.
Community Response
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned the violence, emphasizing the importance of respect and understanding within the community, even amid political disagreements. “Violence has no place in our community, and we will hold anyone accountable who disrupts the safety and civility of our neighborhoods here in Hillsborough County,” he stated.
McMillan now faces charges of battery, specifically two counts related to the incident.
In an interesting note, despite Florida being a typically Republican stronghold, the political dynamics in Hillsborough County showcased a tighter race. In the last presidential election, Donald Trump won the county with a marginal lead — receiving 341,323 votes (50.9%) compared to Kamala Harris, who secured 320,663 votes (47.8%). This close margin marked Hillsborough County as one of the tighter contests in the greater Tampa Bay region.
As the local community reflects on this incident, the emphasis remains on fostering a civil discourse in what has become an increasingly polarized political environment.
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