WASHINGTON — A former staffer for ousted councilmember Trayon White got upset and threatened to hurt a person he believed was "mean mugging" him at a Ward 8 candidate forum on Tuesday.

Eric Cleckley, a former constituent services coordinator for White, was at the candidate forum around 7 p.m. on June 2 at the Union Temple Baptist Church on W Street SE.

Cleckley, 41, told police he had a disagreement during the debate, but wasn’t sure why police had been called. But Ron Williams Jr., who told police he is running for White's empty seat, told police a different story.

According to court documents, Williams said during the debate, Cleckley accused him of “mean mugging” him from across the room. Things quickly escalated, with Cleckley allegedly getting in Williams' face, shouting, “Don’t

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