Former Miami Twp. trustee candidate indicted in attack on firefighter after Browns game

CLEVELAND — UPDATE @ 11:02 a.m. (Dec. 13):

A former Miami Twp. trustee candidate’s position with the Montgomery County Democratic Party will be decided after a felony charge against him is resolved, according to the party leader.

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Democratic Party Central Committee member Zebulon Music has been indicted in Cuyahoga County on a felonious assault charge stemming from an incident with a Toledo-area firefighter after a Cleveland Browns game last month, court records show.

Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owens said today he doesn’t expect the party to taken any action until the criminal case against Music has concluded.

“We wouldn’t do anything until the court case is done,” Owens said.

Music, 33, is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 20 in connection with the Nov. 4 incident, court records show.

The party’s central committee has about 200 members, Owens said.

INITIAL REPORT:

A former Miami Twp. trustee candidate and current Montgomery County Democratic Party central committee member is accused of attacking a firefighter outside FirstEnergy Stadium following a Browns game.

Zebulon Music, 33, was indicted Dec. 6 for felonious assault by a Cuyahoga County grand jury. According to the indictment, Music “did knowingly cause serious physical harm to Joshua Hillabrand.”

Music is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 20. His wife signed for the court summons that was delivered Tuesday to his home in Miami Twp., court records show.

The incident happened Nov. 4 following the Browns and Kansas City Chiefs game.

Hillabrand, 28, spent several days in the hospital after he was punched from behind and hit his head on the sidewalk, CBS affiliate WOIO-TV and the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

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He is a firefighter in Lake Twp., in the Toledo area, who also works for his family’s construction company. He was knocked unconscious and suffered a brain bleed, WOIO reported.

Cleveland police said Hillabrand was attacked after trying to stop Music from throwing construction cones in the street.

Music unsuccessfully ran for Miami Twp. trustee in 2017, his first bid for public office. He came in fourth in a field of five candidates Nov. 7, 2017, for two open seats, according to Montgomery County general election results. In May, he was elected to the county Democratic Party’s central committee.

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