Michael Neary, US House candidate, arrested in Ohio on menacing charge

On Mar 28, 2022

Michael Neary, who once worked for former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, is running for Congress in the Democratic primary in Rhode Island's Second Congressional District.

TROY, Ohio — A Rhode Island congressional candidate has been arrested on a menacing charge after a driver reported being followed for miles in Ohio.

Lt. Todd Tennant of the Miami County sheriff’s office said deputies stopped the car of Michael Neary, 28, of Columbus at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday after a sport utility vehicle driver reported having been followed from Columbus to Troy, more than 60 miles away.

Neary, a Rhode Island native, had been an aide to former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich and worked for Kasich’s Super PAC during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Tennant said the SUV driver reported that Neary’s car had followed them the whole way, mimicking their every move, matching speed and lane changes and even stopping at a rest area after they did. The other driver had just returned from Florida and reported no prior relationship or acquaintance with Neary.

Authorities said Neary told them that he had recently returned to Ohio from Rhode Island, where he said he was running for a political position, and was very stressed and had been focusing on the Ohio registration on the vehicle in front of him.

Neary was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of menacing by stalking, as well as drug counts after marijuana and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in his car.