Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Arrested After Assaulting Elderly Victims

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A 46-year-old man running for Governor of Florida, Kevin Cichowski, was arrested on Friday after allegedly assaulting two elderly victims at a home in Flagler County. Cichowski is accused of hitting one victim with a cane, throwing a cellphone at the other, and threatening to kill the victims and law enforcement if they were called. He was taken into custody without incident and placed under a Baker Act after making suicidal statements during the arrest.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the mental health and fitness of political candidates, as well as the potential risks posed by individuals with a history of domestic violence and aggression holding positions of public trust. It also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to volatile domestic situations involving threats of violence.

The details

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a home on Cleveland Court on Friday morning regarding a domestic disturbance with a weapon. The victims, who were hiding in a bedroom and could not leave because one was bedridden, reported that Cichowski had hit one of them with a cane, thrown a cellphone at the other, and threatened to kill them multiple times and kill law enforcement if they were called. Deputies safely escorted the victims out of the home and then took Cichowski into custody without incident.

• On Friday morning, deputies responded to the home on Cleveland Court.
• Cichowski was arrested on Friday and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

What’s next

Cichowski will undergo a mental health evaluation under the Baker Act, and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office will continue its investigation into the alleged assault.