A Palm Coast man vying for the Florida governor’s mansion is behind bars this week after a domestic dispute involving a cane, a firearm, and threats to kill law enforcement.
Kevin Cichowski, 46, was arrested Thursday morning following a high-stakes response at a home on Cleveland Court. Flagler County deputies arrived at the “C-Section” residence after a 911 caller reported that Cichowski had battered two elderly residents.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victims—one of whom is bedridden—were trapped inside a bedroom while Cichowski allegedly stalked the halls with a gun.
The emergency caller told dispatchers that Cichowski had struck one victim with a cane and hurled a cellphone at the other. He reportedly threatened to kill the occupants multiple times and vowed to open fire on any police officers who showed up at the door.
READ: Unprovoked Daylight Slaying: Man Stabbed To Death On Tampa Street, Killer Arrested At Scene
Deputies used the home’s lanai to reach the victims, safely evacuating them while Cichowski remained inside. Utilizing a drone and intelligence from the Real Time Crime Center, tactical teams eventually established contact with Cichowski. He surrendered and was taken into custody without further violence.
“When responding to a situation where a suspect has a weapon and has threatened to kill the victims and law enforcement, it’s critical that we do everything we can to safely de-escalate,” Sheriff Rick Staly said following the arrest. He credited 911 dispatchers and field deputies for resolving the matter before it turned into a “violent ending.”
Cichowski, who is currently running as a Democratic candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial race and previously ran for Palm Coast Mayor in 2021, faces a long list of felony charges. These include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a person over 65, tampering with a witness, and robbery by sudden snatching.
This is not Cichowski’s first brush with the law; records show a 2024 arrest for domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment.
Following his most recent arrest, Cichowski reportedly made suicidal statements during transport and was placed under a Baker Act for protective custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
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