Charges filed after NC legislative rivals described as having physical faceoff

BLADENBORO, NC (WWAY) — Assault charges were filed on Saturday after Democrat Tim Benton of Bladenboro and Republican Brenden Jones of Tabor City blamed the other for a tussle during a community festival on Saturday.

The NC GOP released this information about the incident in a news release:

The Bladen Journal reported that eyewitness Woody Hester said, “Mr. Benton kept nudging him with his shoulder the whole time they were walking across, and then he just stepped back and little and coldcocked him. To beat all, he (Benton) left a little child in a stroller to walk across the street, and if Mr. Jones’ (companion) hadn’t caught her, the child would have rolled into the street.”

“We are just thankful that Brenden Jones, his wife, and nine year old daughter, who were all with him at the time did not suffer serious injuries. The Democratic Party of North Carolina should join us in seeking Tim Benton’s removal as a candidate immediately,” spokeswoman of The North Carolina Republican Party Kami Mueller said.

Bladenboro Police Chief Chris Hunt told the Fayetteville Observer his officers didn’t see fists flying, but each candidate said they were hit by the other man. Hunt says a responding officer didn’t see any signs of injury. Hunt said the political rivals were told they could try to press charges by appearing personally before a magistrate.

Libertarian Candidate for State Representative District 46, Tom Howell, released this statement Sunday evening:

“As the Libertarian candidate for State Representative District 46, I was surprised and saddened to hear that my Republican and Democratic opponents were engaged in a physical altercation,” Howell said. “Although I also attended the Beastfest in Bladenboro, I was not a witness to the encounter. Assuming the altercation transpired in the manner that Mr. Jones stated, I would think that there are better ways for public servants to address their grievances. It’s too bad that candidates feel that they have to resort to sending out misleading campaign literature just to denigrate their opponents. As a Libertarian, I have the ability to support the best ideas from either party without being tied to one party’s platform. My desire is to represent both Republicans and Democrats in the State House without animosity toward either party.”