Republican arrested after 'chasing an adult dancer on a road while waving a gun at 2:45am'... and his campaign releases bizarre statement

A Republican lawmaker from northern Michigan was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning after police responded to reports of a man with a gun and possible shots fired.

Neil Friske, 62, has a record as a hardline conservative and has put faith and family at the heart of his campaign to be reelected to the state House of Representatives. 

He was arrested after chasing an adult dancer following a disagreement, according to the Michigan Information and Research Service, which covers the state capitol.

His campaign quickly issued a bizarre statement suggesting the case was politically motivated.  

'As many of us know, Rep Friske is always exercising his Second Amendment right,' it said. 

Neil Friske was arrested at about 2:45am on Thursday in the street near his home, according to police in Lansing, Michigan

'We do not have any details, besides what the media sourced, oddly before anyone of us knew anything.

'It is highly suspect considering the timing of this situation.'

It went on to say the arrest came just before absentee ballot papers were released and days after an unknown phone number conducted polling on Friske's race against an 'opponent with deep state ties.' 

'We ask everyone for prayers and to stay tuned for updates directly from this campaign or Representative Friske himself,' it said.

'Thank you for the outpouring of concern and unwavering support we have received this morning. Clearly, Rep. Friske is over the target in this race.'

A request for comment from his campaign was not immediately returned.

'Around 2:45 a.m. on 6/20/24, members of the Lansing Police Department were dispatched to the 2100 block of Forest Rd for a report of a male with a gun, as well as possible shots that were fired,' said police spokesperson Jordan Gulkis.

'Our officers quickly responded and made contact with all the parties involved. An accused was arrested for a felony-level offense.'

Friske's campaign released a statement claiming the arrest was politically motivated

Friske's Facebook page includes pictures of him using firearms

Gulkis added that the investigation continued and evidence would be presented to prosecutors for possible charges on Friday. 

Property records show he was arrested closed to a condo he owns, according to the Detroit news. 

About 40 minutes after police said Friske was arrested, two posts appeared on his X account, discussing legislation banning pornography produced by A.I. without the consent of people in the image. 

'I'm not going to cave to the pressure of special interest. I'm not afraid of the false accusations, like 'Friske is for AI Porn' when a bill denies THE PEOPLE their rights to properly defend themselves,' his account posted at 3:25am, along with a follow-up.

Friske is one of the most hardline conservatives in the House. He is a member of the Freedom Caucus, which lines up against the vast majority of legislation brought before them in the Democratic-led legislature.