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Mayoral candidate accused of hitting apartment manager in face says she's innocent, claims self-defense: 'We all have a past'.

Dave Urbanski

A Georgia mayoral candidate who's accused of hitting her apartment manager in the face last year and was arrested on a battery charge said she's innocent and is claiming self-defense.

"We all have a past, for we are human," Shekita Maxwell — who's running for Macon-Bibb County mayor — said during a Friday press conference, WGXA-TV reported.

"I am innocent; I want you to know that in this great United States of America, I want you to know that I am innocent until proven guilty," she added, the station said. "Due process has to take place so that democracy is not eroded."

What's the background?

WGXA reported in an initial story last month that Maxwell continues to face charges of battery and obstruction of an officer in connection with an August 31, 2023, incident in the clubhouse at the Bowman Station apartments in Macon.

Maxwell allegedly was upset at a landscaping crew for blowing debris on her car and said her Mercedes-Benz GLB was damaged, the station reported, adding that a responding deputy said there was dust on the car but no damage.

Apartment management — who also saw no damage — told deputies they offered to wash Maxwell's car, after which she became aggressive and started screaming, WGXA reported. At that point, management said Maxwell was told to leave the building, the station said.

Investigators said that's when Maxwell hit the victim in the face, causing bleeding, WGXA reported. The victim was the apartment manager.

The apartment's maintenance man separated the pair, forced Maxwell out of the building, and locked the doors, the station said.

Deputies added that surveillance video supports the victim's narrative, and Bibb County Assistant Solicitor Steve Knowles said, "The evidence is clear that the Defendant [Maxwell] was the initial aggressor," WGXA noted.

Deputies also said Maxwell resisted arrest — until one deputy pulled out her stun gun to "gain her attention," the station reported, adding that Maxwell was not tased and eventually calmed down. WGXA reported in a another story that Maxwell was evicted from her apartment after the incident.

More from the station:

WGXA News obtained court documents showing Bowman Station apartments, where the incident took place, filed to evict Maxwell after the fight, asking her to only pay court fees. The eviction was approved, but Maxwell appealed it. In her appeal, Maxwell said she was "illegally evicted for an unjust cost." She added, "I followed the rules, paid rent on time.

In her appeal, Maxwell asked for a counter-judgment of $10,500.

The eviction case resulted in a two-day long trial in which the 6-person jury found in favor of Bowman Station. Maxwell was required to pay over $10,000 in back rent, attorney's fees, and court costs.

Wow, I hope she moves up here so I can refuse to rent to her.

That's crazy.

"We all have a past".

Sounds like a good political ad for the opponent.