Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser refused to directly respond after Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Chris Geldart violently assaulted a Gold’s Gym trainer in a parking lot, allegedly grabbing him by the throat.
(Video Credit: FOX 5 Washington DC)
Geldart is being charged with assault and battery following the altercation that took place at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Arlington. Unfortunately for him, it was caught on video and aired by Fox 5.
The trainer’s name is Dustin Woodward. He is tiny compared to Geldart’s hulking mass.
In the video, Geldart is seen on the right in a tank top and shorts and Woodward is on the left. The incident reportedly began because Geldart’s car door was opened hitting Woodward’s girlfriend’s car.
The deputy mayor was evidently cursing up a storm and screaming at the trainer. Woodward had his fill and turned around, telling Geldart to shut up. Give Woodward his due, he didn’t back down and went chest to chest with Geldart before being allegedly assaulted.
DC @MayorBowser tells @nbcwashington Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart is on personal leave pending an investigation into assault charge in Arlington. Geldart is accused of assaulting a man outside a gym on Saturday in parking lot dispute. pic.twitter.com/0Dds8w8b3I
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) October 5, 2022
After getting in Woodward’s face, up close and personal, the trainer claims Geldart put his hands on his throat before he pushed him away.
When Woodward spoke with FOX 5’s Sierra Fox, he said that it could have ended a lot worse.
“It’s a little frustrating, right? Because he’s way too big to be trying to be a bully, especially with his position. Something should be done. It’s not okay,” he asserted. “We’ve been dealing with him for a while at Gold’s. Multiple locations actually, that’s how we even figured out who he was. So, something needs to be done because you can’t just abuse your power like that. That’s pretty frustrating on my end.”
You did say SAFETY & JUSTICE! Oh, brother …
— Skip Strobel (@SkipStrobelskip) October 5, 2022
Fox 5 interviewed DC Mayor Muriel Bowser concerning the incident. She was asked if she thought it was acceptable behavior from someone on her leadership team to act in that manner. Bowser rudely refused to look at the video or respond at that point.
The mayor’s office released a statement on the matter after the attempted interview stating that Geldart had been put on leave over the incident.
“We take any accusations seriously and are reviewing the matter. While it is under review, Deputy Mayor Geldart is on leave. Unfortunately, it sounds like something that happens to a lot of people — a dispute over something minor — and we hope it is resolved quickly,” Bowser’s office contended.
Dang! "Something that happens to a lot of people – a dispute over something minor" Thats a wild response from @MurielBowser. This is the deputy mayor for public safety choking a person over parking. Our city is too violent for this kind of official response. Dissapointed. Wow. https://t.co/ENiGRSbOaL
— Ari Theresa (@actheresa) October 6, 2022
For Geldart’s part, he’s nowhere to be found at the moment. Fox 5 has not been able to reach him by phone. He reportedly ignored them when they knocked on his door at his Falls Church, Virginia home as well.
After several unsuccessful attempts to reach out to DC’s Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart by phone, we did a door knock at his Falls Church, Virginia home to give him the opportunity to share his side. He saw @fox5dc, but avoided us. Geldart eventually drove away ignoring questions. pic.twitter.com/ftkTsr3Yzx
— Sierra Fox (@thesierrafox) October 6, 2022
The deputy mayor turned himself in and was released on a summons, according to police.
The DCist reported on Geldart’s political history: “D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Geldart to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice role in January of 2021. He previously served as Operational Lead during the city’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and led the D.C. Department of Public Works. Before that, he led the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency for five years, between 2012 and 2017. At HSEMA, Geldart resigned shortly after a report from the Office of the Inspector General found he had committed ethics violations, including using his public office to secure work for his then-girlfriend (now wife’s) company.”
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