A staffer for Andy Harris has filed charges against an Easton man following an altercation during the League of Women Voters candidate forum.
Jonathan Glazer is a Constituent Liaison for Harris' office. he has accused Lance Simon, a nominee for the Talbot County Democratic Central Committee, of second degree assault and disorderly conduct.
The Baltimore Banner reported that, in his handwritten complaint to the District Court Commissioner, Glaser wrote that Simon had struck him in the right shoulder without provocation. It doesn't say what led up to the altercation.
Grace Sosler was sitting hear the men on the end of the row toward the middle of the room when Simon came in.
"He actually was very excited. He was the last one he said to be let in because there was no more seats available." Sosler said.
Near the end of the contentious 90-minute debate a whap sound broke the crowd's concentration.
"Then all of a sudden I saw the man take the hat off and swat him on his shoulder. I didn't know why." Sosler said.
Multiple witnesses say the altercation began when Glaser started filming the debate on his phone.
"He was a video taping reactions of the people seated." Sosler said.
Glaser jumped up and quickly said, "Sir you just hit me, Sir"
"And I asked the woman sitting next to me. I said what happened …and before I even said that she said to the man, 'Stop' —no, 'Put your phone away. Stop videotaping.'" Sosler said.
A Cambridge Police officer saw Simon put his baseball cap back on and ordered him out of his seat. He was removed from the forum.
"The policeman came. The man, very quietly, got up and I didn't hear any words being said or anything. I guess he knew and they left." Sosler said.
The Baltimore Banner reported that Simon said, "I didn't give him permission to record me" as he was escorted out.
In an email Police Chief Justin Todd said the officer met with Glaser who said he wasn't injured and that Simon was upset because he was being recorded.
Tracy Taylor was sitting near the men. She told the Baltimore Banner that Simon told Glaser he didn't want to be recorded.
The disruption lasted about a minute after which moderator Glenna Hackathon told everyone to "take a deep breath" before resuming the forum.
Todd said the incident happened outside of the presence of an officer and since there were no injuries Glaser was referred to the Dorchester County Court Commissioner if he wished to press charges. The commissioner approved the charges that night and scheduled a hearing for December 7th.
District Court Commissioners are judicial officers not required to hold a law degree who rely on what people write under penalty of perjury in applications for charges. Commissioners do not investigate allegations.
If convicted Simon could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $2,500.