Outburst At Fairfield Dem HQ Leads To Westport Man's Arrest: Cops

FAIRFIELD, CT — Local leaders are calling for civility after a Westport man was arrested and charged following an altercation at the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee headquarters.

The incident occurred 4 p.m. Friday, when Michael Silverstein came to the front door of the committee’s office at 1 Sasco Hill Road and yelled insults at volunteers inside, according to police. The committee in a Facebook post Friday identified Silverstein as a supporter of President Donald Trump.

When one of the volunteers offered to help Silverstein, he became confrontational, and the volunteer tried to record the interaction on their cellphone, police said. Silverstein then shouted profanities, knocked the phone from the volunteer’s hand and left the scene, according to police.

Officers were given Silverstein's license plate number and found him at his Bayberry Lane home, police said, adding that Silverstein confirmed he had been at committee headquarters and had gotten into an altercation with a volunteer.

Silverstein, 61, was arrested and charged with breach of peace, and released on a promise to appear in court Nov. 5, according to police.

In a joint statement Saturday, Fairfield Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steven Sheinberg and Fairfield Republican Town Committee Chairman Jack Testani referred to the incident as “disturbing” and asked for civility in political discourse.

“It is core to our democratic values & principles, and fundamental for the good of our community, that we enjoy the right to engage civically and to safely participate in political life,” the statement said.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, a Republican, and Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz, a Democrat, in the statement denounced Silverstein’s alleged behavior. Kupchick also said she had requested police increase their presence near the Democratic Town Committee office.

“These types of actions, intolerance, and incivility have no place in our community,” she said.