COURTHOUSE — Aldo DiBelardino, a candidate for Virginia Beach sheriff, was arrested today at the judicial center and charged with trespassing, according to city police and the sheriff’s office.
DiBelardino, 55, was arrested this morning outside the courthouse because, when protesting there with signs, he refused to move to the designated protest area when told to do so, according to a statement by the sheriff’s office released to The Independent News.
According to the office, he had been provided with a copy of the relevant city ordinance and advised that he had 15 minutes to move to the designated protest area, but DiBelardino would not.
“The lieutenant returned 20 minutes later and again asked DiBelardino to relocate in compliance with the city ordinance,” the statement said. “He again refused, at which point he was placed under arrest.”
DiBelardino was being held in custody on a $1,500 surety bond as of late this afternoon, the sheriff’s office confirmed, adding that he had indicated to a magistrate that he didn’t intend to post bond.
It was not clear this afternoon whether DiBelardino has an attorney. He is charged with trespass after being forbidden to do so, a misdemeanor, according to an online record at the sheriff’s office website.
DiBelardino is businessperson and inventor, according to a campaign website, and he is listed in a state elections department record as an independent candidate for sheriff. He faces Sheriff Rocky Holcomb, a Republican and former member of the Virginia Beach City Council and the Virginia House of Delegates, in an upcoming special election.
Holcomb, who previously served as a chief deputy in the sheriff’s office, became sheriff in September following the retirement of former Sheriff Ken Stolle. The winner of the special election in November would complete the term Stolle began.
Reached by phone, Holcomb declined to comment about DiBelardino’s arrest.
“I’m focused on running a very good campaign,” Holcomb said, “making sure we check all the boxes and making sure Virginia Beach is a safe city for all the citizens.”
DiBelardino received media attention in 2018, when he announced his candidacy for the Virginia 2nd Congressional District District and challenged an opponent, then-U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor, to debate and wrestle him, according to press accounts.
Ultimately, DiBelardino did not qualify for the ballot that year.
Earlier this month, DiBelardino was removed from a courtroom in Virginia Beach after appearing to interrupt a proceeding, according to a video of body camera footage that was posted to a website linked to his campaign page.
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