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Thu, 21 May 2026 22:19:15 -0700
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Fight erupts between councilman, resident at City Hall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrcZHGivGsM

Fight erupts between councilman, resident at City Hall: ‘And I would do it again’
Published: May. 21, 2026, 4:53 p.m.
Hartford city meeting fight
Hartford Coulcilmember Charlie Weeden takes a kick to the face as he and John Spoula fight before a Hartford city meeting.(Courtesy image)

By Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com
HARTFORD, MI — Violence erupted as a commissioner left his seat and lunged toward a citizen before a City Council meeting in Southwest Michigan.

“Charlie!” a voice yells.

The citizen kicked the commissioner in the head before the police chief jumped in to stop the chaos, video shows. Folding chairs crumbled as the men went to the
ground at Hartford City Hall.

Both men spoke to MLive, sharing fiery takes on the melee that broke out Monday, May 18, and the disagreements that led the city of Hartford and its 2,500
citizens down a path of dysfunction.

Another citizen, who declined to give his name out of fear of retaliation, shared a video clip of the fight with MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch
The two men caught fighting on camera both said there’s more to the story.

“He’s been harassing me ever since I got on the City Council,“ Hartford Councilman Charlie Weeden said. He was first elected in November 2025.

His feud with citizen John Spoula has been happening on Facebook as well as in person, both men said.

Both are claiming self-defense in the skirmish that was captured on camera. Though Spoula points out he remained stationary as Weeden came at him from across
the room.

Spoula said he fell as Councilman Weeden came at him and he tried to punch the councilman, but missed.

Spoula, 62, kicked him hard in the face, Spoula said.

“I did it as hard as I could,” Spoula said. “And I would do it again in a minute.”

He said he feared for his life.

“What if he knocks me down and breaks my neck?” Spoula said.

MLive reached out to the city and asked to speak with the police chief or other officials for comment. City Clerk RoxAnn Rodney-Isbrecht said city officials
declined to comment.

Spoula had to seek medical treatment after being restrained on the ground by Chief of Police Brian Matthews, he said. He went to the emergency room for an X-ray
of his arm after the incident, he said. He’s reaching out to attorneys and considering a lawsuit, he said.

Spoula said he’s friends with Matthews. He doesn’t blame the chief for his actions, he said, though believes it caused the injuries.

Spoula said he was assaulted, comparing Weeden to an animal.

“Their dog ran wild,” Spoula said. “He bit me. I think I have some restitution coming.”

Weeden didn’t hold back in criticizing Spoula in a call with MLive.

“If the prosecutor or the sheriff comes and gets me, then you got a good story,” Weeden said. “But if not, there’s nothing that freaking happened. I
just defended myself from some psycho r-----.”

The Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office received an investigative report and declined to bring charges in the case because it was a “mutual combatant”
situation, an official at the prosecutor’s office said Thursday.

“I want him held responsible,” Spoula said. “I want him removed from office.”

Spoula’s wife, Nancy Spoula, also sits on the council. The city is having a hard time making progress on other issues because of the infighting, which has
been going on for months before boiling over this week, Spoula said.

“How much is this man going to cause trouble?” Spoula said. He’s part of a recall effort against Weeden.

Spoula alleged Weeden has made racist comments online, leading to criticism. MLive reached back out to ask Weeden about the allegations and he did not pick up
or return a message about that.

Spoula also made a complaint to the city about Weeden allegedly storing equipment in a residential-zoned area for years. The complaint led to the city
investigating and could cost Weeden more money in taxes, Spoula said.

Weeden said the allegations are false, denying any wrongdoing.

MLive also reached out to all the commissioners with phone numbers listed on the city website. Nancy Spoula responded and said she was instructed by the
city’s counsel not to comment.

On Tuesday, May 19, a special meeting was held to consider alleged violations of the city’s code of conduct and ethics ordinance by Weeden.

All councilmembers voted to find him responsible, Nancy Spoula said. However, it has no real effect, John Spoula said, in part because he is an elected
official.

Hartford is nearly 40 miles west of Kalamazoo in Van Buren County.

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