A Tinley Park man was arrested following an alleged fight during a Bremen High School District 228 board meeting last week, according to police.
Michael E. Szydelko, 55, was charged with battery April 19 after he allegedly made physical contact “of an insulting and provoking nature” with board member Larry Canning during the April 18 meeting, according to a news release from Oak Forest Police.
Police said they responded to calls of a fight in progress at about 7:30 p.m. at Oak Forest High School.
Canning told police he had been shoved by Szydelko, who was identified by police after obtaining a video of the meeting from the school district, the press release stated.
Szydelko has a May 25 court date in Bridgeview.
The ruckus began after board member Mark Johnson made remarks that were critical of Canning and political in nature, Canning told the Daily Southtown.
Canning said he told board president Debi Stearns that it was “inappropriate” but she allowed Johnson to continue.
At that point, men in the audience began yelling and rushed to the table where board members were seated, Canning said.
Stearns told the Southtown that she attempted to maintain order but Johnson felt he had a “right to let constituents know what kind of person Larry is.”
“I think the whole thing could have been avoided if Mr. Canning let Mr. Johnson speak,” she said.
Canning was the top vote-getter in the April 4 election in which nine people ran for three open seats in a contentious election. Stearns and Evelyn Gleason also were re-elected.
Twitter @SusanLaff
