Update: Feb. 27 at 9:15 p.m.
The Madison County Sheriff's Department has arrested the man accused of breaking and entering into Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr's campaign headquarters on Thursday.
The accused man has been identified as Blake Lashelle of Richmond, according to a press release by the Lexington Police Department.
Lashelle is being held at the Madison County Detention Facility on a $25,000 cash bond. He has been charged with criminal mischief in the first degree.
"Political violence has no place in our country. I’m grateful to God that our staff and volunteers are safe and not hurt. I want to thank Madison County Sheriff Mike Coyle, his Deputies, and the Lexington Police Department for their quick response and their professionalism. This is another example of why our police officers in Kentucky are the best in the country and why we must always back the blue,” Barr said in a press release.
Original Story:
Lexington Police confirm that they are investigating an act of vandalism at Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr's Lexington campaign headquarters.
According to the agency, officers responded to the office just before 3 p.m. Thursday for reports of vandalism. When they arrived, the male suspect was not present and no staffers reported injuries.
"The Lexington Police Department will work with the Capital Police Department concerning this incident," LPD said. "This remains an active and ongoing investigation."
In a post to X, Barr thanked Lexington Police for their swift response, and his communications director released a statement regarding what he called a "break-in" on Barr's campaign website.
“Just 48 hours after the President’s historic State of the Union Address, a radical extremist broke into the campaign office of Andy Barr—the champion of the America First movement in Kentucky. While we are relieved that our staff and volunteers are safe, this is a cowardly attempt to intimidate our movement. We want to thank the Lexington Police Department for their swift and professional response. Let there be no doubt: Andy Barr will not be intimidated. He will never back down from his principles or fighting for the hardworking people of Kentucky. This radical was motivated to attack our office because he disagreed with Andy Barr’s conservative beliefs. Political violence has been a growing trend in our country, and there is no place for it.”
