The last two months of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's time in office are turning out to be anything but boring.
Johnson was attending a charity dinner event Wednesday night at a local high school when a protestor reportedly ran up to him with a pie and pelted him right in the face! The protestor then evidently said something upsetting to Johnson, who turned around and began punching the pie-thrower repeatedly—about a half dozen times—to a “bloody pulp," according to a witness.
Police and emergency technicians were immediately called to the scene. The pie-thrower, identified as 32-year-old Sean Thompson, was arrested for felony assault of a public official. He was transported to a local hospital.
“The mayor did strike the suspect after he was assaulted,” spokesman Sgt. Bryce Heinlein confirmed to the East Bay Express. He could not say whether Johnson tackled Thompson, as some have alleged.
The booking photo of the suspect shows cuts and bruises around his face, including two around his left eye. According to the Express, he was an activist with Occupy Sacramento at one time and has protested Johnson at a council meeting before. The mayor has since tweeted that he is doing well and thanked Sacramento Police for their response.
Johnson, who has decided not to seek re-election, is no stranger to controversy. He has been the subject of demonstrations in the past, particularly after sexual assault allegations resurfaced last year.
The Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee also have more on this developing story.
Image Credit: Flickr User kwdesigns, https://flic.kr/p/27SzDZ via (CC BY-ND 2.0)