Teens speak out about alleged attack involving Sunny Isles Beach candidate George Bardmesser
SUNNY ISLES BEACH - Two teenagers are speaking out after they were allegedly assaulted on Sunday by a 59-year-old man who is a city commissioner candidate in Sunny Isles Beach.
Police say the incident happened at El Tropico Cuban Cusine Restaurant at 170th Street and Collins Avenue. Police have charged George Bardmesser with two counts of child abuse.
Surveillance video captured the incident where police say Bardmesser put a 16-year-old boy in a chokehold and struck a 15-year-old boy in the face when other people tried to restrain Bardmesser.
Alejandro, the 16-year-old, did not want to show all of his face but wanted to speak out with his parents' permission.
"I was sitting here in the restaurant and out of nowhere some guy came out of nowhere and put me in a chokehold," he said. "I was in shock. I didn't know what to do. And I was scared for my life."
Alejandro said he is scared to sleep at night, and that the man "should be behind bars."
Mateo, who is 15, also did not want to show all of his face, but wanted to speak out with his parents' permission.
"Basically he was choking my friend and I don't know why," he said. "I was scared at that moment and then he slapped me in my face and I was very terrified of what he was going to do next."
He said there is no reason the situation should have escalated to that level.
Maria Gil, the mother of one of the victims, shed tears as she said she was nervous and afraid.
"Nothing justifies violence with all that is happening in this world. Everyone needs to calm down," Sunny Isles Beach Commissioner Fabiola Stuyvesant said.
The surveillance video also shows Bardmesser yelling at his opponent, City Commissioner Jerry Joseph.
Bardmesser was released on a $5,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with Alejandro and Mateo.
CBS News Miami reached out to him via text and phone and also left a business card at his residence but have not heard back from him.
CBS News Miami has learned the parents of the teenagers have hired an attorney.