CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former campaign worker says he’s still in pain after the husband of a candidate for judge punched him in the face. He says what happened has shaken his faith in politics.
“I’m in disbelief. I’m so in shock,”Jaishun Cross told Channel 2’s Tom Jones.
This is what has Cross in shock.
“Boom,” he said, mimicking the punch thrown at him. “I’m in shock.”
Cross says Delroy Bernard, the husband of Clayton County State Court Judge candidate Tameka West punched him in the face April 25 at the Forest Park Library.
“It’s out of nowhere. For if anything, for me being late,” Cross said.
Bernard was arrested and now faces a simple assault charge.
Cross says he was a paid worker for West’s campaign and Bernard punched him for being four to 10 minutes late.
The West campaign sent Jones this statement about the incident:
“Over the weekend, an unfortunate incident occurred involving a former canvasser who had been dismissed by the campaign for cause, yet repeatedly returned to a staff staging area.
“In an effort to protect campaign volunteers and de-escalate the disruption, Tameka West’s husband, Delroy Bernard, intervened to firmly ask the individual to leave the premises. The situation briefly escalated into a minor altercation. Mr. Bernard remained onsite to fully cooperate with responding law enforcement, and he looks forward to quickly clearing his name in court regarding an incident that never should have occurred.
“Ms. West remains completely focused on her campaign to bring a new standard of efficiency, fairness, and accountability to the Clayton County State Court.”
Cross insists he wasn’t let go until after the day of the incident. He says he was even paid for working Friday. The police report indicates when officers arrived Bernard told them Cross had arrived late.
Cross says he really believed in West, but not now.
“I had trust in her. I had faith in her,” he said.
In the incident report, Bernard said he feared for his life because Cross had gotten into a fighting stance and has dreads and tattoos.
Witnesses told police that Cross never initiated any violence, and they supported what Cross says happened.
Cross says Bernard stereotyped him in other ways as well.
“He says you’re a felon. You’re going to go to jail if you call the police,” Cross said.
He says he’s no felon and his tattoos are art.
Cross says this has really affected his mental health.
“I can’t sleep. My mind. I can’t eat. My mouth is sore still now,” he said.
Bernard is a Clayton County Reserve Deputy, and officers say they took his gun that day.
Cross says this could have really turned out badly for him if he had retaliated when Bernard punched him.
Bernard is also a board member for The Clayton Center’s Community Service Board. Jones tried to get a comment from the board but didn’t hear back from the chairwoman.
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