NH Man Protesting in Hillary Clinton Mask Charged with Assault

MERRIMACK, NH — A local man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after allegedly assaulting another person – while wearing a Hillary Clinton mask, according to police. Nicholas Bonzagni, 28, of Shore Drive in Merrimack, was arrested on Oct. 19, 2016, on a simple assault charge.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Merrimack Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

According to police, officers were sent to a report of an assault at Route 101A and the driveway of St. John Neumann church near PC Connection at just after 5:30 p.m. The caller alleged that the assailant “was wearing a red jump suit and a Hillary Clinton mask,” according to Lt. Dean KillKelley of the Merrimack Police Department. When officers arrived, the suspect had left the area.

“The victim stated he was stopped at the intersection waiting to enter Route 101A when he noticed a person wearing a Clinton mask protesting loudly,” according to KillKelley. “He told this subject to ‘get a job.’ This subject approached the victim’s car and after some words were exchanged, grabbed onto his arm in an attempt to pull him out of the vehicle.”

The victim was not injured during the tussle, according to police.

An officer then learned that earlier in the day, there were complaints filed about a subject dressed as Hillary Clinton “yelling at cars” at the same location. Police went to the area, watched the subject, and saw nothing disorderly, but did speak to the man who was identified at that time as Bonzagni.

KillKelley stated that officers went to speak with Bonzagni at his home about the assault complaint and later, issued an arrest warrant against him. Bonzagni turned himself in, was released on personal recognizance bail, and is due in court on Dec. 1.