Woman Slapped Teen Girl Wearing Political Pants, Point Pleasant Beach Police Say

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — A Canadian woman has been charged with assault after she hit a teenage girl during a confrontation over a political message on the girl's clothing, Point Pleasant Beach police said Monday.

Kaitlyn E. Tracey, 33, has been charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and obstruction, Chief Robert Kowalewski said in a news release.

Tracey lives in Allenhurst, in Monmouth County, and is a Canadian citizen and is married, according to jail records.

According to police, the incident happened July 3 in the evening. The incident was captured on video that initially was shared on social media but appears to have been removed.

Police said Tracey started yelling at the girl over the girl's patriotic-colored sweatpants with political wording. Point Pleasant Beach police did not describe the wording but it was supportive of President Donald Trump.

Tracey was then seen hitting the girl, once on the body and once in the face, with an open hand, police said.

She then left the scene without being identified, police said.

Point Pleasant Beach police were able to identify her as Tracey on July 6, and she was arrested at Point Pleasant Beach police headquarters on Monday.

She is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. There is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer in place, according to jail records.

Kowalewski said the Asbury Park Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the 11th District of the Toronto Police Service, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Intelligence Team assisted in the investigation.