Hartford city commissioners' meeting erupts into violent altercation

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- A city meeting turned into a violent confrontation in Hartford, Michigan this week, a was caught on video.

The video is going viral on social media and shows Hartford City Commissioner Charlie Weeden leaving his seat and charging at a local business owner. That business owner, John Spoula, says that the altercation has been brewing for some time now.

He says that he and Commissioner Charlie Weeden have been at odds since Weeden took office nearly three years ago, citing conduct from the commissioner that Spoula finds inappropriate.

Spoula owns Rabbit Hole Comics, located in Hartford, and he explained what happed during the meeting:

"Charlie came from way over there where he was, all the way out into the audience where I was and that's where the altercation took place. Now, I did jump up because I'm not going to sit there and let somebody come up and just me and I'll be honest, I want this fight as bad as he wants this fight, I want to take him outside, I want to finish it old school, and we move on from there."

ABC57 reached out to both men involved in the incident multiple times, and only Spoula responded. Spoula had submitted wording for a recall petition for Commissioner Weeden in April of this year to the Van Buren County courts, a first step in the official recall process. 

"It is my right to hold him responsible and call him out for anything I don't like, even if I'm a mental case, I still have the right to call him out, you know why? I pay taxes on my store, I can do this, this is my right," said Spoula.

Now, Spoula has also filed charges against Weeden for assault and battery. The case is being investigated by the Van Buren County Sheriff's department. Additionally, Spoula told ABC57 reporter that due to injuries that he sustained in the fight, he will need to go see a specialist to repair the damage.

As far as what Spoula would like to happen now, he made his feelings very clear. "I would like Charlie to resign. Personally, I would rather have this go on and remove him kicking and screaming, the way he wants to go out."