Texas Republican state Senator Ted Cruz was hit in the head with a can on Monday while participating in a parade in Houston for the Houston Astros’ World Series baseball victory.
The Houston Police Department said it took a 33-year-old man into custody over the incident. Video footage shows Cruz on a parade float when what looked like a beer can narrowly missed his face and hit his hand as he attempted to block the projectile.
The man has been identified as Joseph Arcidiacono, 33, and has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell condemned the incident on Twitter.
“Don’t throw beer or commit violence against someone you politically disagree with. We are a country of voting, not violence,” he wrote.
As reported on ABC13,
A judge set Arcidiacono’s bond at $40,000, but the public defender wanted it to be $100, arguing that she questions the charge since she doesn’t believe the cans meet the requirements of being considered a deadly weapon.
She cited a 2003 Texas criminal appeals case that required a deadly weapon object have more than a hypothetical capability of causing death or serious bodily injury. The attorney said that Arcidiacono was standing about 20 feet away from Cruz and that the officer’s statements in the case don’t meet those requirements.
While there was celebrating along the parade route, Cruz was also booed while on board the back of a Humvee.
According to details read in court, the suspect made a statement after he was detained, saying “I know I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.”
Cruz said in a message posted on Twitter, “As always, I am grateful to the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action.”
“I am also thankful that the clown who threw his beer had a noodle for an arm,” he continued.
