A newly released Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrest report says a domestic battery charge against Tony Barrett stems from an alleged early-morning altercation with his ex-girlfriend inside their shared home.

Barrett, a Republican candidate for the Manatee County Commission’s countywide District 6 seat, was arrested Thursday morning on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery.

According to the newly released probable cause affidavit, Barrett and the woman had both been at a nonprofit event hosted by Barrett earlier that night before he returned home hours before she did.

The report says Barrett and the woman had previously dated for about a year and a half and still lived together, but they stayed in separate bedrooms. When the woman returned home, the two got into a verbal altercation in her bedroom that turned physical, per the report.

The report says Barrett became upset, pulled the woman’s hair “and hit her head against the bedroom floor multiple times.” The woman was able to disengage from Barrett and call 911, per the document.

Deputies noted that the woman had an injury to the right side of her head that appeared red and was starting to swell. Barrett, meanwhile, had a cut inside his upper lip and a minor injury to his hand, the report details.

The arrest comes less than one week after qualifying closed for local candidates, locking in a competitive Republican Primary for the District 6 seat. 

Barrett is running to succeed at-large Commissioner Jason Bearden in a GOP field that includes John Calovich, Edward Ference and Tara Poulton. Democrat and former County Commissioner Reggie Bellamy is also running for the seat.

According to his candidate materials, Barrett is an East Manatee Fire Rescue District Commissioner. In his candidate materials, he describes himself as a 34-year Manatee County resident, U.S. Army veteran and former Manatee County EMS worker who retired from the Sarasota County Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic.

He also spent five years assigned as a tactical medic with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, according to his elections office bio.

Barrett has worked as a real estate broker for the past 21 years and has been involved in local and state real estate organizations. He is also the founder of Heroes Welcome Home, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans access housing and support services.

Barrett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The post Police report: Manatee Commission candidate Tony Barrett accused of hitting ex-girlfriend’s head on floor appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..