A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly harassing workers, voters and Girl Scouts at Connecticut polling places.
The incidents occurred at two polling locations in East Lyme, the town’s Democratic Registrar of Voters said. The man purportedly refused to show identification and claimed he was being illegally strip-searched.
The suspect, 61-year-old David Godbout, first went to his designated polling place at East Lyme High School late Tuesday morning, but refused to provide an ID or sign an affidavit allowing him to vote. He also had an altercation and shouted at a female high school student who was holding a sign in favor of reproductive rights, which prompted a 911 call from a witness, according to WFSB.
An officer intervened and separated the two.
Godbout then allegedly went to East Lyme Community Center and confronted state senator Martha Marx and Nick Menapace, a state House candidate who later won. The confrontation prompted a bystander to call police, according to WTNH.
On his way out of the community center, Godbout also approached a group of Girl Scouts and demanded to know if they were inside the zone of neutrality around the polling place, the outlet reported.
Mary Smith, a worker at East Lyme Town Hall, told WTNH that Godbout acts similarly every election.
Godbout was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and violation of conditions for release, stemming from a prior arrest.
He was released on $2,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 19.
According to The Day, a court order related to a separate pending charge bars Godbout from harassing town employees. He must also get a police escort any time he enters East Lyme Town Hall.