Martin Hyde, a congressional candidate from Sarasota, Florida, has issued a public apology after a traffic stop where he threatened the career of the officer who pulled him over.

“I tried to intimidate her,” Hyde said about the incident, which occurred on February 14. “I regret my actions.”

The traffic stop took place at Fruitville Road and Euclid Avenue, and the officer’s body camera recorded the entire interaction.

The video shows the officer informing Hyde that he was stopped for speeding and using his phone while driving. Within 30 seconds of their interaction, Hyde questioned, “Do you know who I am?” and followed it up with, “How about I just call the chief?”

The video also captured Hyde questioning the officer’s nationality when she returned with citations. He questioned, “Is it because you’re a Russian immigrant that you speak to people like this?”

Hyde further threatened to end the officer’s career during the encounter.

The officer called her supervisor and requested backup, citing Hyde’s uncooperative behavior. In the presence of additional officers, Hyde said, “We’re going to make sure she faces consequences for her disrespect.”

Hyde later explained to WFLA that he was in a bad mood that day. He emphasized his respect for law enforcement and mentioned that his eldest son serves as a sheriff’s deputy.

“This wasn’t about disliking police officers,” Hyde said. “It was about me having a terrible Monday morning and behaving poorly. I’m sorry and hope to learn from this experience. I also hope others can learn from it.”

He released a statement on social media, saying:

“Last week, I was pulled over for speeding in Sarasota. During the stop, I acted rudely and disrespectfully toward the officer. Media coverage and public comments about my behavior are fair. I won’t defend my actions or try to downplay them. I have a short temper and can be overly aggressive, which can be an asset in politics but is a personal flaw. I’ve apologized to the officer and now extend my apology to the community. I’ll strive to do better in the future. I won’t shy away from criticism, as it’s not in my nature. I’m deeply sorry to anyone I offended.”

The Sarasota Police Department has chosen not to comment on the matter, with a spokesperson stating that the officer’s conduct is not being reviewed.

Hyde is competing in the Republican primary against Representative. Vern Buchanan to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District. He noted that if he weren’t a public figure, the situation likely wouldn’t have drawn as much attention.

“While I accept responsibility and regret my actions, there are far worse issues happening globally,” Hyde said. “My aim is to help build a better world, which is why I’m pursuing public office.”

The Sarasota Republican Party is dominated by a select group of elites and special interests that I’ve always opposed.

Most current statehouse representatives come from wealthy families who use their influence to gain office. Until we address this elitism, my behavior will seem trivial in comparison.

Hyde has a history of controversial incidents. During his 2019 run for City Commission, he was caught on video berating Puerto Rican teens at a local club. Though he initially suggested withdrawing from the race, he ultimately continued his campaign but lost to Liz Alpert.

Hyde’s federal campaign accounts remain open, and his official campaign website is still active. However, his Facebook page, “Martin Hyde Sarasota Citizen,” has been taken offline. When asked about his campaign’s future, Hyde stated, “You’ll just have to wait and see.”