Police: CNY council candidate punched poll worker

UTICA -- Police are accusing a Utica city council candidate of punching a poll worker during an election night scuffle.

Republican Ed Hill was charged with second-degree harassment, a violation, after Utica police said he hit a poll worker during a scuffle with Democratic opponent Frank Vescera.

According to Deputy Police Chief Mark Williams, Hill "chest-bumped" Vescera and then shoved and punched poll worker Michael Colon in the face. Police say Colon jumped in to the break up the fight and was punched. Colon was not injured.

Hill said that the allegation is not true. He declined to discuss details of incident when contacted Wednesday morning.

Final election results are pending.

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