Poet arrested after allegedly slapping activist outside New Hampshire polling site

Police in Laconia, New Hampshire, arrested a 70-year-old man after he allegedly slapped a member of Turning Point Action outside an elementary school polling place on Tuesday. The New York Post and Fox News both reported that officers arrested Stephen Redic around 8 a.m. on Wednesday. He faces charges of simple assault, which is a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, which is a violation. [1][4]

The New York Post reported that police stated Redic approached a Turning Point tent as he was leaving the site and said he wanted to read a poem about rich people. Video footage captured the incident, which occurred while voters were casting ballots at the school, according to Fox News and Mezha.net. [1][4][7]

Laconia Police Chief Matthew Canfield told Fox News Digital that law enforcement had no prior contact or familiarity with the suspect. MassLive reported that the altercation began after a debate between Redic and the Turning Point Action member turned physical. [1][4][8]

Turning Point Action was founded in 2019 by Charlie Kirk as a political advocacy organization and sister group to Turning Point USA. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Turning Point USA activists have continued mobilizing voters across the country following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September 2025. [10][13]