The executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party was arrested hours after his wedding and booked for allegedly shoving a police officer.
Andrew Bautsch, 31, was charged early Saturday morning with trespassing, simple battery, and resisting arrest. He was granted a $1,600 bond.
Bautsch was married just a few hours before the incident and was reportedly at the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans at the time of the arrest. Bautsch was told by a police officer and manager to enter an elevator. When he refused, the officer escorted him to the elevator, leading to Bautsch allegedly shoving the officer.
The chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Louis Gurvich, said Bautsch’s account of the incident differs from that of the arresting officer.
“He didn’t commit any of these so-called municipal violations,” Gurvich told the Times-Picayune. “These sorts of things happen. He denies any wrongdoing. The process will play out and we will deal with it.”
The Louisiana Democratic Party issued a statement Monday quoting Stephen Handwerk, the state party’s executive director. “This is an unfortunate instance that needs to be looked into,” Handwerk said. “The fact that my counterpart at the LAGOP appears to have violated the law and put a member of our law enforcement in harm’s way is concerning.”
According to Gurvich, Bautsch is now on his honeymoon in the Caribbean. “Anyone is innocent until proven guilty and we shall see. The charges are minor,” Gurvich said.
