SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. – A local political candidate slapped one teenager and choked another in public at a restaurant Sunday in Miami-Dade Count and it was all caught on camera, according to police.
George Bardmesser, a Russian-American attorney who is campaigning for Sunny Isles Beach commissioner, was arrested after the alleged attack at his neighborhood Cuban restaurant.
Also at the event was Sebastian Suels, who told Local 10 News it was his friends who were injured in the incident.
“We were all sitting down, he stood up, came behind us and I was sitting next to my friend who got choked and he just grabbed him and he wasn’t letting go, even when we were pulling and everything, until more people came up and took him off of him,” said Sules. “Right when he let go of the choke hold, he punched my other friend.”
Sunny Isles Beach police officers responded to El Tropico Cuban Cuisine, at 17020 Collins Ave., and handcuffed Bardness, 59, who wore a shirt promoting his campaign.
In the video exclusively obtained by Local 10 News, Bardmesser is seen approaching a group of teenagers who were eating, putting one in a chokehold while his back is turned, and then slapping a second teen, authorities said. Several bystanders intervened before police arrived.
“They were all scared, we were all nervous, we didn’t know what was going on,” said Sules.
A newly released police report describes the teens as members of a political opposition group challenging Bardmesser.
“There was a couple of kids sitting and I don’t know whether they were instigating, said something, generated this gentleman to get up. He put a chokehold on one of the kids and slapped another one,” said Pedro Vera, the owner of the restaurant. “He got out of hand. He lost control. It should have never happened.”
Additional cellphone video shows Bardmesser being confronted inside a restaurant after witnesses said he assaulted a 15 and 16-year-old.
Bardmesser sent an invitation Saturday to a Republican coffee meet-up with Greg Capra, another local candidate, at 2 p.m., on Sunday, at the restaurant.
“We welcome all residents, coffee and light snacks will be provided for guests,” he wrote. “I look forward to seeing you there and discussing our ideas and vision for the future.”
Fabiola Stuyvesant, a Venezuelan-American Sunny Isles Beach commissioner, was attending the meet-up with the teenagers Bardmesser allegedly assaulted.
“I would never bring my kids to a political event if I thought I was putting them in harm,” Stuyvesant said. “As a parent, it’s the worst nightmare you could have — to see your child be hurt by a big guy.”
Miami-Dade County inmate records show correctional officers booked Bardmesser, who is about 6-foot, 2-inches tall and weighs about 230 pounds, at about 4:35 p.m., Sunday, at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center near Doral.
Records show Bardmesser was facing two counts of child abuse with no great bodily harm.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer gave Bardmesser a $5,000 bond on Monday morning.
The hearing was also attended by Stuyvesant via Zoom.
Glazer found probable cause for the charges and issued a stay-away order for the victims.
Glazer also prohibited Bardmesser from contacting the victims directly or indirectly, whether in person or through electronic means and must remain at least 500 feet away from them at all times. However, she did not extend the stay-away order to include the restaurant where the incidents allegedly occurred.
While in court, Stuyvesant expressed fear for her life and the lives of the teenagers who she said were under her care during the incidents. Glazer advised the commissioner to seek a civil injunction if she feels endangered.
Records also show Bardmesser, who specializes in intellectual property law, has been a New York State Bar member since 1998. He was also a member of the District of Columbia Bar. He is also the author of fictional books in English and Russian.
Sunny Isles Beach, where Bardmesser lives in a beachfront luxury condo, is known as “Little Moscow” because of its growing Russian American population.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallo contributed to this report.