An Election Day spat between supporters of different political parties turned violent Tuesday outside a Ypsilanti Township voting precinct.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office initially reported two female township residents, one a Hillary Clinton supporter, the other a Donald Trump fan, voted and started arguing around 10 a.m. outside Moose Lodge 782 at 5506 Stony Creek Road.
But investigators learned the spat involved a 29-year-old woman campaigning for the Green Party and a 64-year-old voter who had just left the precinct after casting her ballot for Trump, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derrick Jackson.
“As the 29 year old was standing within the allowable area for campaigners and urging voters to support Green Party candidates, the 64-year-old voter while leaving the polling location responded and urged voters to support her candidate,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
That sparked a verbal altercation, which escalated to pushing, according to the release.
A man got involved and pushed the older voter to the ground, investigators said.
“Deputies arrived shortly after and separated the involved parties, de-escalated the situation and began gathering the facts,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
No one was injured during the dispute. Names and ages of those involved were not immediately available.
Deputies interviewed the parties but did not make any arrests. A report will be forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, which could issue charges, Jackson said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (734) 994-2911 or its confidential tip line at (734) 973-7711.
rsnell@detnews.com
(313) 222-2486
Staff Writer Mark Hicks contributed.
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