New Hampshire police arrested a 70-year-old poet accused of slapping a Turning Point Action member outside a Laconia elementary school where voters were casting ballots Tuesday.
The Laconia Police Department said officers arrested Stephen Redic around 8 a.m. Wednesday. He faces misdemeanor simple-assault and violation-level disorderly-conduct charges.
“We’re not familiar with him, meaning we’ve had no prior contacts,” Laconia Police Chief Matthew Canfield told News Media on Wednesday.
A still from cellphone video shows an argument involving Stephen Redic, whom police identified as 70, before he allegedly slapped a Turning Point Action volunteer outside a New Hampshire elementary school Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Courtesy of Asher Vesey)
According to a Laconia police news release, Redic approached the Turning Point tent while leaving and said he wanted “to read a poem about rich people.” The poem does not appear in the viral video, which shows the volunteer attempting to debate Redic as the older man raises his voice and becomes increasingly angry.
In the footage, the agitated man shouts at the volunteer, raises his middle finger, slaps him across the face and walks away.
A still from cellphone video shows Stephen Redic, whom police identified as 70, arguing with a Turning Point Action volunteer before allegedly assaulting him outside a New Hampshire elementary school Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Courtesy of Asher Vesey)
“You sit there and dare to look me in the face and say I don’t know anything?” Redic says in the video, his voice becoming hoarse as he points a finger in the volunteer’s face.
“That’s what I know,” he says before backhanding the volunteer.
Moments later, Redic says, “f— that s—,” as he walks away. People off-camera can be heard discussing whether to call police.
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The incident prompted audible surprise from bystanders.
Turning Point identified the volunteer as 18 years old.
Stephen Redic appears in a booking photo taken by the Laconia Police Department in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. He faces misdemeanor assault and disorderly-conduct charges after a viral video appears to show him slapping a Turning Point Action member. (Laconia Police Department)
Redic published a poetry collection titled “Tying My Shoes” in 2023. In the book, he claimed to have met every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower.
His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 10.
It was not immediately known Wednesday afternoon whether Redic had retained an attorney. He did not immediately respond to an effort to contact him.
The incident occurred 14 months after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University beneath a similar tent. Kirk founded Turning Point USA and its affiliate, Turning Point Action.
Late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was known for confronting ideological opponents at his “Prove Me Wrong” events. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Kirk, is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing that could result in a trial date being set. Robinson has pleaded not guilty.