SAN ANTONIO – A man arrested Thursday on suspicion of assaulting a 69-year-old election worker at a Southwest Side polling place was released from jail late Friday night.
Jesse Ratzenberger, 63, entered the Johnston Branch Library polling place around 6:30 p.m. Thursday and was wearing a red “Make America Great Again” baseball cap, according to a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office report. It is said that The phrase has been a Trump campaign slogan for years.
Texas law prohibits voters from wearing clothing or accessories that support or oppose a particular candidate, political party, or policy within 100 feet of a polling place. Election fraud is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said election officials instructed Lutzenberger to remove his hat when entering the building.
Salazar said Lutzenberger initially took off his hat in response and proceeded to vote. But Lutzenberger put his hat back on as he left the building after voting, the sheriff said.
The election official tried to escort Lutzenberger outside and again asked him to remove his hat, according to the report. That’s when Lutzenberger punched the 69-year-old man several times in the face and chest, deputies said.
Lutzenberger was charged with injury to an elderly person, a third-degree felony, according to court records. The suspect posted $30,000 bail and was released from the Bexar County Adult Detention Center at 11:48 p.m. Friday, according to jail records.
The poll worker suffered an abrasion to his left cheek, according to a sheriff’s office report.
Bexar County Elections Administrator Jack Callanen said in a news conference Thursday that the election worker was treated by emergency medical services at the location before being released.
Lutzenberger left the polling place, but lawmakers headed to his home late Thursday.
When they arrived, Lutzenberger came outside and told deputies he was the person they were looking for, Salazar said Friday.
Kalanen reminded voters Thursday that they cannot go to the polls wearing campaign paraphernalia such as shirts, hats, buttons or stolen items.
Kalanen said some election judges bring jackets to polling places for voters to wear in case someone is wearing a shirt emblazoned with a particular candidate. said. Callanen said some voters will be asked to go to the restroom and turn their shirts inside out or tape a sample ballot to the front of their shirts.
“There may be some voters who are not happy… but we need to stay within the law so that no one is intimidated and everyone is free to come vote,” Callanen said. Ta.
He also said voters cannot discuss their political preferences while in line to vote.
Bexar County Judge Sakai issued the following statement regarding the case:
“Violence has no place in our election process. This type of behavior will never be tolerated. We will not allow anyone to interfere with our election process. Mr. Callanen, his staff, and the Board of Elections have done a great job accommodating the record number of early voters, and they should be commended for their efforts. We want to protect and defend the right to vote for all eligible citizens in our voting process. Let’s respect everyone involved.”
In a statement released Saturday afternoon, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzalez vowed to “vigorously prosecute” Lutzenberger.
“During the first week of early voting in Bexar County, an election worker was assaulted simply doing his job. Bexar County Elections Administrator Jack Callanen and his staff are committed to ensuring voter safety. They did an excellent job ensuring that the unfortunate incident that occurred last week was handled quickly and appropriately.The perpetrator, Mr. Lutzenberger, was arrested and charged with injury to an elderly person, a third-degree felony. I will direct my staff to vigorously prosecute this person and hold him and others involved in this type of criminal activity accountable, as the right to vote is sacred in our country. It is the foundation of our democracy. But no one has the right to assault, intimidate, harass, or intimidate election workers or voters. Rest assured that under my leadership, the Attorney General’s Office will hold that person accountable. Please exercise your right to vote this year.
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