A candidate in the race for Florida governor has been apprehended after allegedly assaulting his elderly parents using a cane and a cell phone.
Kevin Cichowski, who is campaigning to replace Governor Ron DeSantis, faces multiple charges including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery against a person over 65, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, witness tampering, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching. These charges were outlined in a statement released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. For more details, you can view their official press release.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Cichowski’s campaign team were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to requests made by Oxygen.
The incident unfolded on April 10 when law enforcement was summoned to the Palm Coast residence shared by Kevin and his parents, Stanley and Christine Cichowski. This information was detailed in a charging affidavit reviewed by Oxygen.
Christine, who is bedridden, informed 911 operators that her 46-year-old son attacked her husband with a cane and then threw a phone at her head, resulting in injuries for both parents.
The affidavit reveals that the altercation began the night before when Kevin allegedly unplugged the television, intending to sleep. Stanley’s attempt to reconnect the TV reportedly led to Kevin striking him with the cane. When Christine attempted to call for help, Kevin allegedly grabbed her phone and struck her on the head, causing a cut and subsequent bruise.
He also allegedly threw a remote in his mother’s direction and, when she ducked, slapped her, per the affidavit.
At one point, Stanley grabbed a revolver, telling police it was for protection, per the doc. But Kevin allegedly snatched it from his dad’s hands, hit him with it, pointed it at him and threatened to kill both his parents. He also allegedly said he would shoot responding officers in the legs.
When Kevin left the room, Stanley locked the door, while Christine finally called 911.
Police found the couple hiding in their bedroom, per the press release, and ordered Kevin to surrender.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” he told officers during his detainment, as seen in footage obtained by Oxygen. “This is insane.”
While being transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, Kevin began making “suicidal statements,” the press released noted, “and was placed into protective custody under a Baker Act.” The Florida law offers crisis services for those experiencing mental illness, according to its website.
In 2024, Kevin—who previously campaigned for mayor of Palm Coast in 2021—was arrested for kidnapping and domestic battery by strangulation against his wife, police noted in the affidavit, for which he was not convicted.
Kevin’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 5, according to court documents. Oxygen could not reach an attorney for Kevin.
