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Thursday, March 28, 2024
Keith Perry
Keith Perry

Gainesville Police filed a sworn complaint Wednesday recommending that State Rep. Keith Perry be charged with simple battery and trespassing.

Following a fight Saturday between Perry and another man, GPD filed with the state attorney recommending the charges, GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said. Officers did not see the incident, so the state attorney must decide whether to charge Perry.

Keith Perry mug

GPD released a 30-minute video of the fight, showing Perry striking the man across his neck in the 2200 block of W. University Ave., according to a police report.

Perry, a Republican representing District 21 in the Florida House of Representatives, is currently running for the District 8 seat in the Florida Senate.

The video, which has no audio, shows Perry and the man arguing at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. A taken-down “Keith Perry for State Senate” sign can be seen on the front porch.

On Wednesday, Perry released a statement apologizing for the incident, saying he only pushed the man when the man made comments to Perry’s wife and spat in Perry’s face.

“While I have the opportunity to bring charges against (the man), I have no intentions of escalating this any further,” the statement reads. “For anybody offended by my actions I humbly apologize.”

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