A man who runs a parody Twitter account of the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has been arrested while wearing an "I'm with stupid" T-shirt at a political rally on Thursday.
Iain Fogerty, who is behind the @Can_Do_Campbell account, was taken into custody by police in Queensland's capital city, Brisbane, and charged with public nuisance. It occurred as supporters of opposing candidates for Brisbane Central seat Labor's Grace Grace and Liberal National Party's Robert Cavallucci went head to head on opposite street corners.
"There was a guy who was being disruptive, pushing people around and stuff like that," a Queensland Police Service spokesman told the Brisbane Times. Other reports say he was simply waving to cars and claimed the police were heavy handed.
Note police very careful about which side they walk on pic.twitter.com/qVyvIUM6zv— Tim Sterne (@timsterne) January 8, 2015
Cavallucci said volunteers of his party got shoved, while opposing Labor campaign manager Judi Jabour told Fairfax Media it was an over-reaction.
"All he was doing was standing there waving with an 'I'm with Stupid' T-shirt on and Luke Barnes, Robert Cavallucci's campaign director, seemed to take offence," she said.
This man is currently in jail. To be release later today on 'watch house bail'. All he did was wave. #qldvotes15 pic.twitter.com/bnR0qgji1s— Judi Jabour (@judi_jabour) January 8, 2015
A dozen police and multiple police cars turned up at the scene to arrest the local Twitter star. Fogerty has been released on bail and got straight back on his social media of choice, making light of the situation.
Currently ironing my best plain white shirt.— Not Strong Campbell (@Can_do_Campbell) January 8, 2015
Others also began tweeting in support of Fogerty, including making memes featuring the "I'm with stupid" T-shirt.
Have just arrived in Brisbane; doing a quick legality check of my t-shirts.— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) January 8, 2015
Sorry about dobbing you in, @Can_do_Campbell, but it's our job to keep the country safe from humour.— ASIO Official (@ASIOOfficial) January 8, 2015
Newman finds new way to embarrass Queenslanders #imwithstupid— John Grey (@jg_rat) January 8, 2015
Even The NT is into #imwithstupid #qldpol pic.twitter.com/1cLdp0XTGY— Gareth Williams (@notGareth) January 8, 2015
Breaking news: Rod Flanders has just been taken to a Brisbane watch-house. #qldpol #qldvotes #imwithstupid pic.twitter.com/l31hNBqHKP— Daniel Johnson (@danjohnson1979) January 8, 2015
@Can_do_Campbell has no one to blame but himself. He was duly warned #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/13UUGSh6Tr— Max The Lobbyist (@maxthelobbyist) January 8, 2015
everyone's getting in on it #imwithstupid craze settin' the joint on fire via @1EarthMedia #qldvotes #auspol pic.twitter.com/rmFsV12UP0— Ed Kuepper (@EdKuepper) January 8, 2015
A fine tradition - and this guy didn't get arrested! #qldvotes #qldpol pic.twitter.com/iYvuuWvA8e— JJ (@jasonjordan) January 8, 2015
Hi @QPSmedia - QUICK arrest Campbell Newman's entire ministry! They're a public nuisance! #QLDvotes @Can_do_Campbell pic.twitter.com/L1P0jIDO8U— Kiera (@KieraGorden) January 8, 2015