Columbia County Republican Party Meeting Ends in Arrest

A Columbia County Republican Party official was arrested Saturday after reportedly assaulting a fellow member during a meeting. Linda Parnell, 67, was charged with battery in the incident that occurred as local Republicans were handling local business.

Former Columbia County 4th District Commissioner Dewey Galeas was the target of the attack, that witnesses say was the result of long standing animosity within the group. While the arrest report didn’t include many details, video of the incident was viewed by officers, which clearly shows Parnell throwing coffee in the face of Galeas.

Parnell was processed through the Columbia County Jail on a charge of Simple Battery and released on a $1,100 bond.