APNewsBreak: Paul volunteer apologizes for scuffle [View All]

[sabra]

Source: AP

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A volunteer with Rand Paul's Republican U.S. Senate campaign apologized Tuesday for stepping on the head of a liberal activist who tried to confront the tea party candidate with a fake award.

Paul supporter Tim Profitt said video of the scuffle made it appear worse than it was and he chided police for not stepping in. Lauren Valle, the 23-year-old activist with the group MoveOn.org, said her face was swollen and her neck and shoulder were sore after she was wrestled to the ground by Paul supporters Monday night when she tried to give the candidate an "employee of the month" award.

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"I'm sorry that it came to that, and I apologize if it appeared overly forceful, but I was concerned about Rand's safety," Profitt told The Associated Press.

Video recorded by WDRB shows Valle's blonde wig being pulled off before she's pinned to the ground. Profitt then pushes his foot down on her head.

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Paul's campaign dropped Profitt as campaign coordinator in Bourbon County in central Kentucky and banned him from future events.

Profitt said he was interviewed by a Lexington police detective Tuesday, but that he had not been charged.

"A friend of mine went up to three policeman before Rand got there, and told them about the girl who was standing there with that wig on and that she was getting ready to do something," Profitt said. "The policemen looked at him and said that's not our job."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7264840.html

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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/cops_share_more_details_on_pro.html

UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: The Lexington police confirm it in a statement, adding that Profitt is now a suspect (I've edited the above to clarify):

The Lexington Division of Police has identified a suspect in connection to the October 25, 2010 assault of a woman at 600 Cooper Drive.

On the 25th, at approximately 7:00p.m., officers were alerted to an active assault at 600 Cooper Drive (Kentucky Educational Television Studios).

Officers responded to the scene of the assault and made contact with the victim. She identified herself as a member of MoveOn.org and stated she was assaulted while attempting to take a picture with candidate Rand Paul. Division of Police patrol officers took an assault report and forwarded the case to the Division of Police Bureau of Investigation.

Today, October 26, 2010, detectives identified the suspect, involved in the assault, as Tim Profitt. Mr. Profitt is currently being served with a criminal summons ordering him to appear before a Fayette County District Court Judge.