FL Man Running For Governor Arrested For Battery On Elderly Parents: Reports

PALM COAST, FL — A Democratic candidate in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race was arrested by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office for attacking his elderly parents, according to reports.

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, NBC Miami reported.

Cichowski is listed as a candidate for governor with the Florida Division of Elections and previously ran for Palm Coast mayor in 2021.

The primary is scheduled Aug. 18, and the race to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis includes dozens of candidates.

Deputies said that they responded to a call at a Palm Coast home on Friday morning after receiving a report that a man, later identified as Cichowski, battered two people, his parents.

Cichowski is accused of hitting one with a can and throwing a cell phone at the other.

The 911 caller, who was one of the victims, told deputies that their son also threatened to kill them, CBS 12 reported.

The victim also claimed that Cichowski had a gun and also threatened to kill law enforcement if they were called to the home.

When deputies responded, they found his parents hiding in a bedroom, reports said. They couldn’t leave the home because one of the victims was bedridden.

Deputy-worn body camera footage shows Cichowski claiming that his parents were dealing with mental health issues and that his father tried to kill him.

“I haven’t done anything wrong. This is insane,” the candidate said in the video as deputies escorted him to a patrol vehicle.

Cichowski also made suicidal statements after being taken to a detention facility and was Baker Acted, reports said.

He was previously arrested in 2024 for domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment, according to reports.

This story includes reporting by The Associated Press.

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