Demings' Paid Security Tackles man to Ground

The security detail hired by Democratic senatorial candidate and Rep. Val Demings has taken down a man outside a public event the congresswoman attended in Brevard County earlier this month.

Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign press secretary posted a video showing the man, who could be a political campaign tracker, being tackled to the ground.

Prior to being tackled, the man appears to be forewarned about being assaulted by the security detail assigned to guard Rep. Demings.

Security Detail Officer: Don’t take it personal

Victim: Take what personal?

Security Detail Officer: What’s going to happen to yo

“Security officials take potential threats and threatening behavior toward the Chief seriously,” said Christian Slater, communications director for Demings’ campaign in a prior statement. “In this instance the individual did not respond to multiple requests to leave and charged at security personnel in pursuit of Chief Demings’ approaching vehicle.”

We reached out to Slater for further comment but have not heard back.

But Republicans were quick to criticize Demings’ campaign over the situation.

“It’s easy for Democrats like Val Demings to call defunding the police ‘very thoughtful’ and violent riots ‘a beautiful sight’ when she has her own private security to back her up,” said Julia Friedland, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

Republicans contend that Demings, the former City of Orlando Chief of Police, is soft on crime and supports the widely-unpopular “Defund the Police” initiative Progressives around the country have been pushing. Demings has denounced that narrative.

Rubio’s campaign has also been pushing out the narrative that Demings wants to defund police, and have rolled out video endorsements form law enforcement officials around the state supporting Rubio’s re-election bid.