New details have emerged regarding the man who threw a beer can at GOP Senator Ted Cruz, including the surprising classification the can was given in court.
Cruz was taking part in a parade on Monday afternoon celebrating the Houston Astros, who recently defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series. At 4:44 p.m. local time, the Houston Police Department reported that a 33-year-old man had been arrested for throwing a beer can at the Texas Senator while he was passing by in a military vehicle as part of the parade.
“The beer can struck the Senator in the chest/neck area,” a tweet from the department explained. “The Senator did not require medical attention. Nearby HPD officers arrested the male without further incident. He was taken to jail and faces assault charges.”
On Tuesday, Law & Crime reported the suspect to be Joseph Halm Arcidiacono, according to court documents and arrest records. KPRC News in Houston reported that the suspect was charged bond was set at $40,000. He is charged with aggravated assault, with court documents further indicating that the can he threw was unopened, thrown from a distance of about 15 feet, and is being considered a “deadly weapon.” He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Wednesday.
“I know, I’m an idiot. I’m sorry,” Arcidiacono told officers following his arrest, according to prosecutors.
Cruz, for his part, appeared to take the incident in stride, thanking local police and mocking the suspect’s seeming strength. He also claimed that the projectile thrown at him was a White Claw, a popular brand of alcoholic seltzer, and not a beer, as indicated by official records.
“As always I’m thankful for the Houston Police and Capitol Police for their quick action,” Cruz tweeted shortly after the parade. “I’m also thankful that the clown who threw his White Claw had a noodle for an arm.”
A video of the moment that Cruz was struck by the can began to circulate on Monday, with Cruz appearing to back away from the projectile and a man standing next to him attempting to block it. In the aftermath, they seemingly try to point out Arcidiacono in the crowd. As of Tuesday afternoon, the video had been viewed around 6 million times and received over 66,000 likes.
Reactions to the incident ranged online, with some taking the opportunity to mock the divisive Republican lawmaker and others insisting that violence against politicians is not justifiable.
“Such a blatant assault can only mean one thing, this is clearly a lovers quarrel between Ted Cruz and the gay prostitute he invited to the parade for sex,” writer and comedian Matt Oswalt tweeted, referencing the Paul Pelosi conspiracy theory that Cruz previously amplified.
“Do not do this! It’s not funny or some kind of gag,” MSNBC host Chris Hayes wrote. “It’s bad and toxic and dangerous.”
Newsweek reached out to the Houston Police Department for comment.
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