Miami, FL- A candidate vying for a position on the Sunny Isles Beach commission was taken into custody on Sunday following an alleged altercation with two teenagers at a Cuban restaurant.
At a political event held at the El Tropical on Collins Avenue, George Bardmesser found himself engaged in a heated argument with some individuals referred to as “opposition leaders” who were seated at a nearby table, as stated in the arrest report.
Amidst the escalating dispute, Bardmesser, 59, resorted to forcefully restraining a teenager, as confirmed by the authorities who examined the surveillance footage from the restaurant.
Several individuals in the restaurant stepped in and separated Bardmesser from the teenager.
According to the surveillance video, Bardmesser engaged in a physical altercation and struck another teenager in the face.
Afterward, several individuals in the restaurant sought the attention of a police officer who happened to be on patrol. In a cellphone video, individuals inside the restaurant can be heard accusing Bardmesser of striking a child.
Bardmesser was subsequently apprehended and placed under arrest. He is facing charges of two counts of child abuse without causing significant physical harm.
During the bond court proceedings, Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges against Bardmesser. As a result, she issued an order for Bardmesser to refrain from any contact with the teenagers involved.
Reference: CBS News