70-Year-Old Man Arrested After Video Shows Him Slapping 18-Year-Old Turning Point Volunteer at New Hampshire Polling Station

A 70-year-old New Hampshire man has been arrested after a confrontation outside an Election Day polling station was captured on video, appearing to show him slapping an 18-year-old volunteer working with conservative group Turning Point Action.

Stephen Redic, a resident of Laconia, was arrested on November 4, one day after the incident outside Woodland Heights School in Laconia, New Hampshire. Police charged him with misdemeanor simple assault and a non-criminal disorderly conduct violation.

The confrontation happened on November 3, as voters headed to the polls and Turning Point Action volunteers were operating a table outside the school.

According to Laconia Police Chief Matthew J. Canfield, officers were called to the polling location shortly before 2:45 p.m. after the young volunteer reported being assaulted.

Police said Redic had approached the group’s booth and reportedly wanted to read a poem about wealthy people. A political discussion followed, but the exchange became increasingly heated.

Investigators said the teenager reported that Redic grew agitated, began shouting and eventually struck him across the face.

Video shared by Turning Point Action appears to capture the argument. The older man can be heard challenging the young volunteer, telling him he had no idea who he was and questioning his knowledge.

The teenager responded that the man had not presented a single statistic.

The exchange continued for several moments before the older man raised his middle finger and appeared to slap the volunteer across the face. He then walked away.

The young man did not appear to strike back in the footage.

Following the incident, Turning Point Action shared the video online and praised the volunteer for remaining composed. The organization encouraged supporters not to be discouraged from participating in political activities or voting.

Police said officers reviewed video evidence and spoke with witnesses before identifying Redic as the suspect. He was taken into custody the following morning.

Redic is scheduled to be arraigned on December 10 in Laconia. The charges are allegations, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The incident prompted condemnation from both major political organizations in Belknap County.

The Belknap County Republican Committee said it condemned violence both inside and outside the political process, emphasizing that citizens should be able to exercise their democratic rights without being attacked.

The Belknap County Democratic Committee also issued a statement condemning political violence of any kind.

Laconia Mayor Mike Bordes, who is also a Republican state representative, said he was upset and embarrassed that a young person had been assaulted in his city. He stressed that political disagreements should be settled through discussion and at the ballot box, not physical confrontation.

The case has attracted attention because the alleged assault took place at a polling location, where volunteers from different political organizations were engaging with voters during an important election.

Turning Point Action was founded in 2019 by conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The organization has continued its political activities following Kirk’s assassination in 2025.

While the video has circulated widely online, the police investigation and court proceedings will determine the legal consequences for the accused man.

For the 18-year-old volunteer, what began as an ordinary day of political outreach ended with an alleged physical assault in front of a polling station. The case has since become another reminder of how quickly political disagreements can escalate — and why violence has no place in the democratic process.

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