Stephen Redic arrested for slapping Turning Point Action volunteer in Laconia
Police charged the 70-year-old poet with simple assault after a viral video showed him backhanding an 18-year-old at a polling place.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
Voting was underway at a Laconia elementary school on Tuesday when a dispute outside a campaign tent turned physical. Laconia police arrested Stephen Redic on Wednesday morning following the incident.
Redic, 70, is a poet who published a collection titled “Tying My Shoes” in 2023. The book contains claims that he met every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower. Officers charged him with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a violation.
According to a press release from the Laconia Police Department, Redic approached the Turning Point Action tent as he left the site. He stated he wanted to read a poem about wealthy people. The poem itself does not appear in the available footage.
Video from the scene shows Redic raising his voice while the volunteer attempted to engage him in conversation. The poet’s demeanor grew agitated. He shouted, “You sit there and dare to look me in the face and say I don’t know anything?” before shoving his finger toward the volunteer.
Redic then declared, “That’s what I know,” and struck the volunteer across the face with an open hand. He walked away from the tent and muttered, “f, k that s, t,” as onlookers expressed surprise. Bystanders discussed calling the police while Redic departed.
Turning Point Action identified the victim as an 18-year-old. Police Chief Matthew Canfield told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that officers had no prior contacts with Redic. The department said they were not familiar with the suspect.
Redic is scheduled for an arraignment on Dec. 10. It was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney as of Wednesday afternoon. He did not respond to attempts to reach him. This incident occurs 14 months after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who founded both Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, at a similar tent at Utah Valley University.
