A Florida man who filed to run for governor as a Democratic candidate is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly assaulting two elderly individuals during a domestic disturbance, according to authorities.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a residence in Palm Coast on the morning of April 10 after receiving a 911 call reporting a violent confrontation involving a weapon.
The caller, identified as one of the victims, alleged that 46-year-old Kevin Cichowski struck two elderly individuals inside the home, including hitting one with a cane and throwing a cellphone at another, and threatened their lives.
According to investigators, the victims told dispatchers they were unable to leave the home, noting that one was bedridden at the time.
Deputies later located both individuals inside a bedroom and escorted them out of the residence through a lanai for safety, NBC Miami reported.
Deputies made contact with Cichowski at the scene and issued commands ordering him to surrender. He complied and was taken into custody at the residence.
Cichowski now faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery on a person over 65, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with a witness, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching.
During transport to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, authorities said Cichowski made suicidal statements.
He was subsequently placed under protective custody under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows temporary detention for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Body camera footage obtained by several media outlets shows deputies arriving at the residence with weapons drawn and ordering Cichowski to the ground before placing him in handcuffs.
In the recording, he can be heard denying wrongdoing as he is escorted from the scene.
According to officials, the victims required immediate assistance during the response due to their condition, which authorities said contributed to the urgency of the rescue.
Sheriff Rick Staly credited deputies, dispatchers, and real-time crime center analysts for coordinating a rapid response that ensured the victims’ safety.
The sheriff’s office also confirmed that Cichowski was previously arrested in 2024 on charges of domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment.
State election records cited by multiple outlets show Cichowski filed to run for governor of Florida shortly before his latest arrest.
Authorities confirmed that he filed paperwork for the Democratic nomination and previously ran for mayor of Palm Coast in 2021, according to The Blaze.
On his campaign website, Cichowski describes himself as a former Republican who became disillusioned following his 2024 arrest and later “switched sides,” citing what he characterizes as unfair treatment by both the party and the court system.
According to Cichowski, his campaign focuses on defending individual rights and challenging the current judicial system.
Officials have not announced additional charges or a court date, and jail records indicate Cichowski remains in custody as the case proceeds.
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