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Louisiana GOP director trespassed, battered officer on his wedding night, NOPD says

When a New Orleans police officer approached the groom, still dressed in his wedding suit, Bautsch resisted getting into an elevator, records show.

NEW ORLEANS — The executive director of Louisiana's Republican Party was booked with battery on an officer, resisting police and criminal trespassing after he allegedly shoved a police officer who was escorting him from a St. Charles Avenue hotel early Saturday morning.

Andrew Bautsch, 31, was arrested at about 1:30 a.m. shortly after his wedding at the Pontchartrain Hotel Saturday. 

According to municipal court records, a manager at the hotel called the police with a trespassing complaint against Bausch. When a New Orleans police officer approached the groom, still dressed in his wedding suit, Bautsch resisted getting into an elevator.

At that point, Bautsch “shoved the officer,” according to a summary on the affidavit.

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The officer arrested Bausch and booked him into the Orleans Parish Justice Center, where he was released a short time later on his own recognizance, court records show.

Bautsch, who was hired last spring as the executive director of the GOP in Louisiana, could not be reached for comment because he is on his honeymoon, the Republican Party office said.

Bautsch’s counterpart with the state Democratic Party, however, wasted no time issuing a statement about the arrest.

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“This is an unfortunate instance that needs to be looked into,” Stephen Handwerk, Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director said. “The fact that my counterpart at the LAGOP appears to have violated the law and put a member of our law enforcement in harm’s way is concerning. With last week’s appalling revelation of the LAGOP’s sexist recruitment tactics combined with today’s accusations against Andrew Bautsch, you have to question who still supports this Republican Party?”

Bautsch manages the party's daily operations and budget and works with the state party's elected officials and candidates.

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Despite the unanticipated drama after he tied the knot, Bautsch nevertheless posted photographs of his wedding night on his Facebook page.

Stay with the Eyewitness News on WWL-TV and WWLTV.com for more on this developing story. 

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