City resident charged after video emerges of assault at Ward 5 poll

LACONIA — A city resident, who was captured on video striking a Turning Point PAC staffer in the face at the Ward 5 poll Tuesday, turned himself into police on Wednesday morning, and faces an assault charge.

Stephen Redic, 70, of Laconia, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and a violation for disorderly conduct for hitting Rainer Vesey in the face on Tuesday afternoon. He was released on a promise to return to court for the reading of his charges on Dec. 10.

Laconia Police released a statement on Wednesday saying the victim told police they engaged in a debate, but Redic became more agitated as the conversation continued. Vesey told police Redic became “very aggressive” and raised his voice, before striking him with the back of his right hand across the face.

Vesey was with his brother, Asher Vesey, from Old Lyme, Connecticut, to represent Turning Point PAC at the Laconia polls. They declined to comment about the election, but provided their names for a photo. Voters could be seen speaking to the Veseys at their booth throughout the afternoon.

A video of the incident taken by Asher quickly surfaced online, and Chief Matt Canfield confirmed its validity, saying he saw it himself. The video, posted by Rainer and shared by Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), shows the altercation, which happened on the afternoon of Nov. 3. Redic can be seen standing close to Rainer, saying he has no idea who he is and “how dare you say I don’t know much.”

Rainer replied Redic didn’t present a single statistic, to which Redic said, “neither have you,” before swearing. Redic then backed up a few feet.

“You sit there, and dare to look me in the face, and say I don’t know anything?” Redic yelled.

He then gave Rainer the middle finger, stepped forward, and backhand slapped him in the mouth, before swearing at him and walking away. Rainer did not appear to respond to being hit.

As Redic fled the scene, bystanders said to “call the cops.”

Canfield said police spoke to the victim, who relayed the story, and provided the video to officers. Police spoke to three witnesses who observed the incident. The suspect was not there when police arrived, but someone got his license plate, which was used to identify him.

An arrest warrant was drafted Tuesday night, and police went to his home Wednesday morning. He was not there, but turned himself in at the police station “a very short time later,” according to Canfield.

All charges are allegations until the defendant is tried in a court of law.

Rainer Vesey is the president of the Old Lyme Turning Point Activism Hub, and Asher is vice president, according to the organization’s website. Vesey deferred comments to Brooke Bessinger, public relations manager for Turning Point Action, who did not respond by late Wednesday.

Redic is scheduled to appear in Laconia District Court at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10.