Former Emanuel Opponent Arrested on Battery Charge

Argument was over floral arrangement

A doctor who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2009 to replace Rahm Emanuel when he left for the White House was arrested early Sunday after allegedly shoving a man at Trump International Hotel & Tower, police said.

Officers responded about 2 a.m. to the Trump Hotel, 401 N. Wabash Ave., and were escorted to the 16th floor by security personnel.  There, a man told police that as he was leaving a social gathering, he and Dr. Victor Forys began arguing about a floral centerpiece, according to a police report.

A spokeswoman for Trump would only describe the gathering as a private fundraiser.

During the altercation, Forys shoved the victim, who fell and hit his head on a chair, leaving a cut above his right eye, according to the report.

The two were pulled apart, and Forys was arrested at 2:10 a.m. and taken to the Near North District police station where he was processed and charged with misdemeanor battery, police said.  A mugshot taken shows him wearing a tuxedo.

An ambulance responded but the victim declined to be treated by paramedics, saying he’d seek treatment from his own doctor, the report said.

Forys was reached Sunday morning by telephone but said "I have no comment," when asked about the arrest.

Polish-born Forys ran for the 5th District Congressional seat vacated by Emanuel when he left for the Obama White House.

Forys arrived in the U.S. from Poland at age 4. He grew up in Chicago, earned a medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also studied in Poland, where he took part in early demonstrations that led to the Solidarity movement's overthrow of the communist government, he said during his campaign.

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