ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man accused of attacking a state House candidate at a polling place Tuesday morning.
Diana Jordan-Baldwin, who is running for the Republican seat representing northeast St. Johns County, says she was punched in the face at the World Golf Hall of Fame polling location.
Jordan-Baldwin described the moment she says the confrontation turned physical.
“He reached around and hit me with a closed fist,” said Jordan-Baldwin.
Jordan-Baldwin says the man had been aggressively campaigning for several candidates at the polling location the day before. She says he was approaching voters and promoting candidates he claimed were Republican-endorsed.
She says the confrontation escalated Tuesday morning as she was setting up her campaign tent.
“He said you have to be a dumb stupid a** b***** walk by a car that is moving and I said excuse me.”
Jordan-Baldwin says her husband stepped in after she was punched. She says the two men struggled before the suspect eventually left the area with another car.
“It’s like it was a set up where they thought they were going to catch an argument with the candidate or something.”
Witnesses got a look at the suspects tag and Deputies say they arrested Charlie Hunt, who is charged with two counts of simple battery.
There is no indication Hunt supports Jordan-Baldwin’s opponent, Kim Kendall, who sent a statement to Action News Jax condemning the incident.
“This is completely unacceptable. This is a horrible act and we condemn such behavior”
Jordan-Baldwin says she is still experiencing pain and is having difficulty walking following the confrontation.
“I just want to be safe in my community again,” said Jordan-Baldwin.
The investigation remains ongoing. Action News Jax is working to obtain the suspect’s mugshot and the incident report.
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