Bodycam shows Florida governor candidate’s arrest after being accused of battering

Body camera footage captured the moments when a man running for Florida governor was arrested in Flagler County after allegedly battering elderly victims.

Kevin Cichowski, 46, was charged with 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.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, deputies received reports that a man attacked two elderly victims at a home, hit one with a cane and threw a cellphone at the other, and he allegedly was armed.

One of the victims, who called deputies, said that Cichowski also threatened to kill them and would also kill law enforcement if they arrived, deputies said.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found the two victims hiding in a bedroom and told them they couldn’t leave because one of them was bedridden. They were then escorted out of the home.

Deputies then made their way to get Cichowski.

Body camera footage shows deputies pointing their weapons at Cichowski as they ordered him to get on the ground.

Cichowski was then placed in handcuffs and taken to a police cruiser.

While he was being taken to the detention facility, deputies said Cichowski made suicidal statements. He was then Baker Acted.

This wasn’t the first time Cichowski has been in trouble with the law.

Back in 2024, he was arrested for domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment.

Cichowski also previously ran for Palm Coast Mayor in 2021.

“When responding to a situation where a suspect has a weapon and has threatened to kill the victims and law enforcement, it’s critical that we do everything we can to safely de-escalate the situation and quickly rescue the victims from immediate danger,” said Sheriff Rick Staly, in a statement. “I commend our deputies, RTCC analysts, and the 911 dispatchers for working together for a safe resolution and arrest the suspect before the situation escalated to a violent ending.”