Altercation at voting poll leads to the arrest of Massachusetts man

November 3, 2020 10:53 pm

ABC6 News,

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WLNE)- Barnstable Police responded to a report of a fight between two men near the Precinct 5 Voting Poll on Main Street, Tuesday afternoon.

When police arrived on scene, a 69-year-old man said he was standing on the side of the road holding a ‘Trump 2020’ sign when another man stopped his truck next to him, before getting physical with the elderly man.

While on the way to the scene, police were informed the suspect had driven away in a black pickup truck. Officers then began to search the area after being provided with the license plate number of the suspects truck.

The 69-year-old victim told police that while holding his sign, the suspect stopped his car and shouted at him, before getting out of his truck, ripping the sign out of the man’s hands, and throwing it to the ground.

Police say the suspect then grabbed the man and began to shake him, while pushing him backwards, before fleeing.

While speaking with the elderly victim and his wife, officers spoke with witnesses who observed the skirmish. Police say the victim was not injured during the altercation.

Shortly after, officers tracked down the black pickup truck and conducted a motor vehicle stop. The victim was driven by police to the scene of the motor vehicle stop, where he identified the driver as the man who grabbed him moments earlier.

The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Bladen Tisdell, who was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Assault and Battery of a person over the age of 60-years-old.

Tisdell was transported to the Barnstable Police Department, where he was later bailed on personal recognizance. Tisdell is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on November 4.