Charges Dropped Against Eaton for Democratic Committee Altercation

Tallahassee, FL -- March 29, 2012 --

A felony case against a man involved in a scuffle during a local Democratic Party meeting has been dropped.

Jacob Eaton had been charged with battery of a person 65 years of age or older.

The charge came after he had a scuffle with Bob Henderson at a Leon County Democratic Executive Committee meeting in January.

State Attorney Willie Meggs told us last month he planned to prosecute the case based on this surveillance video taken of the incident.

But Eaton says his attorney received a letter from that office, today, saying the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.

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RAW VIDEO: Democratic Committee Altercation

UPDATED 2.9.2012 by Julie Montanaro

A man arrested in the wake of a scuffle at city hall is speaking out today saying police arrested the wrong man.

Jacob Eaton is accused of battery for knocking another Democratic Executive Committee member to the ground. The whole thing was caught on tape and we got a copy of it so you can judge for yourself.

RAW VIDEO: Democratic Committee Altercation

Jacob Eaton is now facing felony charges for knocking fellow Democrat Bob Henderson to the floor during an executive committee meeting January 23rd.

He says Henderson grabbed him repeatedly to try to get him to be quiet.

"I'm mystified here. What is someone supposed to do if someone grabs you, rips your shirt, attacks you, what is someone supposed to do in these situations?" Eaton said. "I want justice and this situation to me is not justice. This smells and stinks of corruption at the highest level of Tallahassee."

The incident was caught on camera in the city commission chambers. (You can see the video for yourself by clicking on RAW VIDEO: Eaton City Hall Incident)

You can see Henderson in a burgundy jacket and Eaton in a white shirt at the top of the screen.

Witnesses have varying accounts of what happened. One says Henderson "appeared to be angry and "forcefully grabbed Eaton's arm." Another says Henderson "tapped" Eaton on the side but Eaton was in such a rage that he "pushed Henderson."

Henderson wouldn't comment on camera, but denies he was trying stop Eaton from asking questions. He says Eaton was disrupting the meeting. "I tried to be a peacemaker", he said, "but it didn't work out that way."

"This is a political arrest," said Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor.

Proctor is also on the Democratic Executive Committee. He wasn't there to see the incident, but called the arrest a "gestapo" tactic.

'You go to jail and get prosecuted not for a man coming across the room and laying hands on you, but for the questions you ask," Proctor said. "It's nothing more than intimidation which will place a chilling effect upon citizens who come to this building."

Proctor called on the state attorney's office to drop the charges against Eaton and file charges against Henderson.

After watching the videotape this afternoon, deputy state attorney Georgia Cappleman says she is comfortable with the decision to press charges against Eaton and said the case will proceed through normal channels.

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Feb. 9, 2012 - Noon -

A local Democratic committeeman facing a felony charge is speaking out publicly for the first time. Jacob Eaton is accused of battery on a person 65 years of age or older at a Leon County Democratic executive Committee meeting last month.

Watch our LIVE interview with Jacob Eaton above.

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Feb. 8, 2012 - Noon -

A local Democratic party committeeman is facing a felony charge. 39-year-old Jacob Eaton is accused of battery on a person 65 years of age or older.

The charge stems from an altercation that happened on January 23rd behind closed doors of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee. At that meeting, Eaton spoke up to object about the hiring of an attorney.

Eaton talked to Eyewitness News by phone this morning. Specifically, Eaton says he was concerned about a check party treasurer Bob Henderson had written to Tallahassee mayor John Marks' re-election campaign in 2010. Eaton believes that check may have violated campaign finance law.

According to eyewitnesses, Henderson walked across the room to get Eaton to stop talking and sit down. Eaton tells us Henderson grabbed him three different times, including ripping three buttons off his shirt. He says the last time when he brushed off Henderson, he fell to the floor. According to court records, Henderson chose not to press charges the night of the incident. However, two days later, after Eaton attempted to file charges against Henderson, Henderson changed his mind. Eaton turned himself in to the Leon County Jail last night. He was released on a $2,500 bond.

Because Henderson is 70-years-old, the battery charge is a felony. If convicted, Eaton faces a minimum of three years in prison. There is video of the incident, however, police aren't releasing it due to the pending case.

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Feb. 8, 2012 -

The Tallahassee Police Department releases probable cause for Robert Eaton and a statement about the investigation.

Please see the attached probable cause above for Jacob Eaton. Mr. Eaton was involved in an altercation on January 23rd, 2012 and turned himself in last night to the Leon County Jail after he learned a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The video associated with this case is not able be released at this time as it is evidence in the case. Once the case is complete, the case details will be released.

Court records show Eaton bonded out of jail at 6:30 last night and posted a $2,500 bond.

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Things get heated and turn physical during a Democratic Strategist Meeting.

Tallahassee Police say they were called to city hall Monday night after an altercation.

The police report says Jacob Eaton was rudely yelling at someone who was speaking at the podium. The report says Eaton told police that Robert Henderson came up and grabbed his shirt, causing the buttons to pop off.

However, the report says witnesses say Henderson tried to get Eaton's attention and Eaton pushed Henderson to the floor.

Both men declined to press charges.