Candidate’s son threatens police

The son of Tara Samples, who is running for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Democrat Dennis Kucinich, made a Facebook threat against police Saturday, the Kucinich campaign acknowledged Sunday.

In a post captured by the group Ohio Going Blue — a pro-police site — Samples’s son, Brian Newell, 24, said “I bet I kill a cop today,” and followed it with an obscenity. Newell’s Facebook page appeared to have no posts on it Sunday evening.

Kucinich spokesman Andy Juniewicz issued a statement saying that Newell had a history of mental-health problems and that Samples was trying to help him.

“Saturday evening, Brian Newell, the 24-year son of Dennis Kucinich spokesman Andy Juniewicz

Lt. Governor candidate Tara L. Samples was taken into protective custody after he suffered an emotional episode and posted threatening messages on his Facebook page,” Juniewicz said in the statement.

“Tara is hoping to have him admitted to Summa St. Thomas Hospital, which specializes in behavioral health, opiate treatment, and traumatic stress — because Brian, like all people with mental health and addiction issues, needs treatment, not jail time.”

Juniewicz added, “Tara

speaks openly and publicly about her experiences with her son who since childhood has suffered from a variety of mental health issues, and later in life a drug and opioid addiction after suffering a traumatic brain injury. His mental health issues have led to arrests and criminal charges. He has multiple mental health diagnoses and has been in treatment and rehabilitation facilities many times over the past many years.”