South Bend Common Council candidate charged with domestic battery

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A candidate for the South Bend Common Council was charged with two counts of domestic battery in connection with an August 14 incident, according to court documents.

Roosevelt Stewart, a Republication candidate for the 2nd District, was charged with domestic battery and domestic battery in the presence of a child.

The incident involved his teenage daughter and a 5-year-old witness.

The victim said Stewart had been drinking the night of the incident. An argument took place between Stewart and his daughter, and Stewart allegedly got on top of her, punched her multiple times in the face and wrapped his hands around her neck to the point of her feeling dizzy.

While this was happening, the 5-year-old was nearby and calling for help.

Another witness said that while Stewart got in the victim’s face, nothing physical happened, but she noticed the victim’s lip was busted and didn’t recall seeing it like that before, reports said.

The St. Joseph County Republican Party released the following statement in response to news of Stewart's arrest:

The St. Joseph County Republican Party recently learned about an arrest involving a GOP South Bend Common Council candidate. The GOP strongly condemn all forms of domestic violence. We are praying for Roosevelt Stewart's family at this time.