A Florida governor candidate was arrested for allegedly beating his elderly parents with a cane and a cell phone. 

Kevin Cichowski—currently running to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis—has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery on a person over 65, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with a witness, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching, according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

A spokesperson from Kevin’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.com.

On April 10, police were called to the Palm Coast home of Kevin and his parents Stanley Cichowski and Christine Cichowski following a disturbance, according to a charging affidavit obtained by Oxygen.com. 

A bedridden Christine told 911 that her 46-year-old son had struck her husband with a cane and threw a phone at her head, causing them both to bleed.   

The couple claimed the conflict started the previous evening when Kevin unplugged their TV because he wanted to go to bed, according to the affidavit. When Stanley attempted to fix it, Kevin allegedly struck him with Stanley’s cane. Then, when Christine said she was calling 911, Kevin allegedly snatched her phone and hit her on the head with it, causing a laceration and later a contusion.

“I Ate Mom”: Man Found Guilty in Gruesome Murder and Cannibalism of His Mother She Claimed Self-Defense in Neighbor’s Murder, But the Autopsy Revealed a Shocking Detail Missing 12-Year-Old Girl Rescued After Sex Offender Crashes Car with Her Inside

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.com. “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.com could not reach an attorney for Kevin.