According to the warrant, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was tackled from behind by his neighbor, Rene Boucher, 59, at 3:21 p.m on Friday. | John Shinkle/POLITICO Neighbor charged with assault after altercation with Rand Paul 'The assailant was arrested and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine,' the senator's spokeswoman said.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was assaulted by his neighbor at his Bowling Green residence, police say, an altercation the suspect admitted to a Kentucky State trooper, according to an arrest warrant obtained by POLITICO on Saturday.

According to the warrant, Paul was tackled from behind by his neighbor, Rene Boucher, 59, at 3:21 p.m on Friday. The senator was "blindsided" but is "fine," a spokesperson for Paul said.


Boucher's altercation with Paul left the senator having difficulty breathing as a result of a "possible rib injury" in addition to bleeding from cuts around his mouth. Paul was seeking medical help for his injuries, the warrant said.

"Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault,” Paul spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper said. “The assailant was arrested and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine.”

Sources in Kentucky said Friday that Paul had been involved in an altercation, but a spokesman for the senator did not return repeated requests for comment on Friday night.

The news was first reported by WBKO, a local TV station in Kentucky, on Saturday.

Boucher, according to the warrant, admits to going onto Paul's property and tackling him. Neither the warrant nor a charging document written by a Kentucky State trooper describes what preceded the incident. The charging document has a field for offenses suspected to be related to drug or alcohol use, but those boxes are unchecked.

Boucher was taken to the Warren County Detention Center and charged with one count of fourth degree assault and causing a minor injury. His bond was set at $5,000. An initial court appearance has been set for Nov. 9.

In Kentucky, assault in the fourth degree is a Class A misdemeanor, which could carry up to a year in prison.

Seung Min Kim and John Bresnahan contributed to this report.