New Hampshire poet slaps Turning Point volunteer outside Laconia school

Stephen Redic, a 70-year-old poet, was taken into custody in Laconia, New Hampshire, after hitting a Turning Point Action volunteer in the face. The incident occurred outside a local elementary school that served as a polling place on Tuesday. Redic faces two charges: simple assault, a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a violation.

Laconia Police Department officers placed Redic in custody around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4. Police Chief Matthew Canfield noted that the department had no prior records of contact with the suspect. "We're not familiar with him, meaning we've had no prior contacts," Canfield said.

The encounter began as Redic was leaving the area near the organization's tent. According to a police press release, he told the volunteer he wanted "to read a poem about rich people." Video of the incident shows the victim attempting to engage in a debate while Redic became increasingly loud. The poet shouted at the 18-year-old volunteer, gestured aggressively, and slapped him across the face before walking away.

Witnesses reacted with surprise to the physical contact. In the footage, Redic raises his voice, pointing a finger at the volunteer. "You sit there and dare to look me in the face and say I don't know anything?" he asks. He adds, "That's what I know," immediately before delivering the blow. He storms off shortly after, uttering an expletive.

Redic published a collection of poems titled "Tying My Shoes" in 2023. In that work, he claimed to have met every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Laconia police department is processing the case, and Redic is scheduled to appear in court on December 10 for his arraignment. It was not immediately clear if he had retained legal counsel as of Wednesday afternoon, and he did not respond to attempts to reach him.

This incident follows the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, by 14 months. Kirk was killed at a similar tent at Utah Valley University. His accused killer, Tyler Robinson, is due in court on Monday for a hearing that may set a trial date. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.