Brawl at the Polls Remains Under Investigation
Police continue to investigate a skirmish that broke out in front of the election polls in Shelby Township Aug. 7 and captivated the attention of political media around the state.
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An investigation on an election day brawl in front of the polls in Shelby Township Aug. 7 involving a political candidate, her husband, the wife of another political candidate and an outspoken political blogger, remains open.
The case has been assigned to Sgt. Jeff Daniels with the Shelby Township police. Daniels said the investigation is ongoing as he continues to interview witnesses and review evidence.
Once the investigation is completed, it will be sent to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, which will determine if charges will be brought against anyone involved.
The scuffle broke out in front of Crissman Elementary School, which was Precinct 23 and 24 when Jean Leman, the wife of candidate for Supervisor Bob Leman approached political blogger Matt Guarnieri just before noon as he painted over her husband's political signs with red paint from the back of his vehicle.
The video shows Leman pull the sign from Guarnieri's hand and a struggle ensued. Meanwhile, candidate for treasurer and current Trustee Lisa Manzella walked over and her husband Joe Manzella, pulled up in a vehicle and confronted Guarnieri, according to the video, which was exclusively captured by Patch.com.
"There is no way I would ever walk up to that freak,” said Manzella. “I would have never approached him. I just went to go catch Jean – but obviously it was too late,” said Manzella.
In just minutes, the four exchanged heated words, some pushes and Guarnieri can be heard on video asking passersby to call the police. Police arrived just minutes later. No arrests were made at the scene and no serious injuries were reported. The Shelby Township police have used the video captured by Patch.com as evidence in the case.
Manzella was defeated at the polls by Trustee Michael Flynn for the position of treasurer. Bob Leman also lost the race to incumbent Rick Stathakis.
Guarnieri told Patch that the political signs he was defacing were obtained legally since he got them from a Dumpster at the police department after the ordinance enforcement officer removed signs that were placed too close to the road. Guarnieri said he was granted permission by the township to take them.
Manzella told Patch she doesn't believe Guarnieri got the signs from the police station because on her way home every night, her and several other candidates, checked the garbage to see if any of their signs had been thrown out.
"That’s what my life had become. I Dumpster dived every night," she said.
Guarnieri also maintains that he was parked on a private drive that leads to his home when he was approached.
"They came on my property and took stuff out of the back of my personal vehicle," said Guarnieri.
As for Manzella, she told Patch she would not have done anything different if she had to relive the situation over.
“I would do the same thing all over again. I could call 911, which is what I did, and then I would go help Jean -- with the exception of kicking the can because I lost one of my favorite pairs of shoes,” she said.
Stay with Patch.com on Facebook and Twitter for updates on this developing story.
Note: The video contains expletives.
Mike
9:07 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I can't believe the police are even giving this a second look. Then again, If there is a way to squeeze a couple of hundred bucks out of somebody without having to do much physical work, .... I can believe it.
Sammy V.
3:12 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Flynn is Shooter McGavin and Matt G. is the mentally unbalanced fan hired to heckle Happy Gilmore.
Matt G's job is to get Manzella riled up and Marina's job is to capture the moment(s) on camera.
bill webber
12:06 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Sammy V ....
now its Marina's fault for videotaping it ? give me a break...
Tell me : which alias are you ?
I am sooooooooooo glad Manzilla & Leman lost the election.
Lets just see if they will fade gracefully ... or come back and cause trouble at the meetings -like like that buffoon Bottcher.
Dana Horton
4:32 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I agree with Sammy V. 100%. It was all a huge show. How sad.
Sarah Franklin
3:12 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
That video says it all and clearly shows our Shelby Township Trustee (Treaurer's office candidate) and her husband threatening the gentleman in the green shirt. Whatever previous events caused this incident to escalate out of control, their actions on August 7th were way over the top and clearly shows unacceptable behavior. The verbal (assault) language used by the candidate's husband was extremely offensive and the pushing (battery) by both the candidate and her husband clearly goes far beyond bad judgement. In my opinion there should definitely be some form of official Township reprimand for this behavior to demonstrate that a person in public office is never above the law and should be held to the highest accountability standards at all times. The candidate's recent quote in the article above is also worth a million words, as she apparently said: "I would do the same thing all over again".
That sure sounds to me like someone who hasn't learned anything yet as she is confirming that it is ok to put your hands on others and use profane language in public- plus she seems to have no remorse for the fact this incident happened in the driveway of an elementary school. WOW -- Isn't that a wonderful message to send to our children from a Shelby Township Trustee? This is a blemish that will likely follow Shelby Township for some time to come.
John Lang
8:45 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
Get over it Matt. You got the attention you staged this event for.
Dana Horton
4:32 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
It must be very difficult keeping all of these names straight.
bill webber
12:06 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
John L ,
Yet another accusation ..... I thought you were above that ?
Macomb Rocker
10:56 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
PS, I believe Matt would be regarded as stalking Manzella under different circumstances. Fellow men, would you put up with a guy dogging your wife? It's more than politics.
Thomas Delise
10:56 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Matt is such a Saint,I wonder when his buddy $tathakis will have him lead in prayers at the Board Meetings?
Dana Horton
10:56 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
How sad for this Matt to go through his life taunting others and creating havoc among people for his own pleasure. What a shame to feel the need to ruin a day where others are out exercising their right to vote. He needs to seek counseling and/or therapy. I wonder if his family is proud of his antics.
With all of the turmoil all over the world did we need to have Matt inciting trouble right here in our own back yard? Again, what a shame.
Macomb Rocker
2:33 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
You know, if you saw the last couple of months of board meetings on tv, there would be Matt taking up a few seats in the front row trying to get his signs defaming Manzella and a few of the citizens that came to the board meetings on tv. Stathekis should man-up and ask Matt to put the signs away. You knew he was there to bait Manzella. Finally a lady appeared at a meeting with a pro Manzella sign, sat behind Matt and Woelkers asked her to put her sign down. Something stinks about this. I bet if Matt was doing that to Stathekis wife, he would have been ejected from the meeting. Yes he was inappropriate, not only to Manzella, but as I said to some regulars as well, especially a blind man, and Stathekis let him get away with it.