Say Anything Blog

MUNCIE—A Republican voter registration deputy jailed Wednesday for attacking a newspaper reporter and hitting the Democratic 6th District congressional candidate could be back to work as early as today.

Will D. Statom, 56, was preliminarily charged with battery, a misdemeanor, after he attacked Star Press reporter Nick Werner following a contentious Delaware County Election Board meeting.

Werner, 27, was interviewing Ball State University student Johanna Perez about hundreds of last-minute voter registration applications collected by Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign when the reporter and Statom exchanged words.

Werner said Statom made a sarcastic remark about his reporting while he was interviewing the student. The reporter said he then told the Republican appointee to “shut up.”
Witnesses said Statom passed Werner, then turned around and shoved the reporter into a wall. The assault occurred in the hallway outside the commissioners’ courtroom on the third floor of the Delaware County building.

As the two men struggled and then fell to the floor, Barry A. Welsh, Democratic 6th district congressional candidate, stepped in to break up the fight. Welsh, a former minister, said Statom turned around and hit him in the eye.

..."It was over the top,” he said of the Republican’s actions. Some witnesses told police Statom was attempting to choke the reporter as the two men struggled on the floor.

Thank you for not reading this, Rod.