A political candidate was reported to have slapped a teenager and choked another in public at a restaurant in Miami-Dade County on Sunday, according to witnesses. The incident took place in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
A neighborhood Cuban restaurant in Sunny Isles Beach became the site of an alleged attack by George Bardmesser, a Russian-American attorney who is currently campaigning for commissioner. He was subsequently arrested for the incident.
Bardness, 59, wearing a shirt promoting his campaign, was handcuffed by Sunny Isles Beach police officers who responded to El Tropico Cuban Cuisine located at 17020 Collins Ave.
Pedro Vera, the restaurant owner, witnessed the incident and shared his account: “There were a couple of kids sitting and I’m not sure if they said something to instigate, but it prompted this man to get up. He proceeded to put a chokehold on one of the kids and slap another. He completely lost control and it was a situation that should have never happened.”
On Saturday, Bardmesser extended an invitation to attend a Republican coffee meet-up with Greg Capra, a fellow candidate, at the restaurant on Sunday at 2 p.m.
He wrote a message inviting all residents to an event and mentioned that coffee and light snacks would be provided for guests. He expressed his excitement about meeting everyone and discussing their ideas and vision for the future.
While at the meet-up with the teenagers who were allegedly assaulted by Bardmesser, Fabiola Stuyvesant, a Venezuelan-American commissioner from Sunny Isles Beach, was present.
Stuyvesant stated that he would never bring his children to a political event if he believed it would put them in danger. He emphasized that, as a parent, it is the ultimate nightmare to witness your child getting hurt by someone bigger.
According to the inmate records of Miami-Dade County, Bardmesser, who stands at approximately 6 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs around 230 pounds, was booked by correctional officers at around 4:35 p.m. on Sunday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center near Doral.
According to records, Bardmesser had been charged with two counts of child abuse, but without causing any significant physical harm.
On Monday morning, Judge Mindy Glazer of Miami-Dade Circuit granted Bardmesser a $5,000 bond.
Commissioner Fabiola Stuyvesant attended the hearing via Zoom as the defendant’s opponent.
The victims were issued a stay-away order by the judge after finding probable cause for the charges.
As per the judge’s ruling, Bardmesser is not allowed to make contact with the victims either directly or indirectly, whether in person or through electronic means. Additionally, he must maintain a distance of at least 500 feet from them at all times. However, the stay-away order does not apply to the restaurant where the reported incidents took place.
During the court hearing, Stuyvesant expressed her concern about her safety and the safety of the children under her care during the incidents. The judge recommended that the commissioner pursue a civil injunction if she believes that her safety is at risk.
According to records, Bardmesser is a highly skilled intellectual property lawyer and has been a member of the New York State Bar since 1998. Additionally, he has also been a member of the District of Columbia Bar. It’s worth noting that he is a published author in both English and Russian, with a repertoire of fictional books under his name.
Bardmesser resides in a luxurious beachfront condo in Sunny Isles Beach, which has gained the nickname “Little Moscow” due to its increasing population of Russian Americans.
Mercedes Cevallo, an Assignment Desk Editor at Local 10 News, made a contribution to this report.