Cichowski, 46, is listed as a Democratic candidate for governor with the Florida Division of Elections, and the arrest came after Flagler County deputies responded to a call in Palm Coast on Friday morning, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies reported that a man battered two people in a home, including by hitting one with a cane and throwing a cellphone at another, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
After officers arrived, they evacuated the two older people, one of whom was bedridden, the sheriff’s office said. The office said one of the victims called 911 and claimed Cichowski threatened to kill them and said he would kill law enforcement if officers were called, according to the sheriff’s office.
In body camera footage shared with The Associated Press, Cichowski said he had done nothing wrong as officers escorted him to a patrol vehicle. “I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said. “This is insane.”
The sheriff’s office said Cichowski was charged with multiple counts of aggravated battery, tampering with a witness and robbery, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. The office said it did not specify the ages of the two people beyond describing them as older than 65.
The sheriff’s office also said Cichowski was taken into protective custody after making suicidal statements. It was not immediately clear Sunday whether Cichowski had legal representation.
Cichowski previously ran for Palm Coast mayor in 2021 and is one of the candidates seeking to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose seat is expected to be contested in Florida’s Aug. 18 governor’s primary. AP reported that dozens of candidates have filed for the race.