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OC man hospitalized after alleged fight with neighbor over Trump flag
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OC man hospitalized after alleged fight with neighbor over Trump flag

A Orange County the man was hospitalized with serious injuries following a fight with a neighbor on a Donald Trump flag.

“He didn’t care at all about my health after he left,” John Muder said. “He left me there, in my opinion, to die.”

Muder spoke exclusively with FOX 11 Saturday morning via Zoom from his hospital room. Muder said he has been in the hospital for three days due to a concussion.

“I had a brain hemorrhage,” Muder said. “I just can’t believe the violence this guy was referring to. For what? A flag? Are you kidding me?”

According to Muder, a neighbor of his Ladera Ranch the community recently had a Harris-Walz sign taken up. Muder believes the Harris supporter thought he accepted his sign.

“He thought it was me because I had my Trump sign,” Muder said. “Which is furthest from the truth.”

Shortly after, Muder claims a Trump 2024 flag above his garage disappeared.

A Trump flag hung outside John Muder’s house.

“Whoever did it came to my house that day, set up a ladder, cut the flag down and took it with him,” Muder said.

Then, on trash day, he said he checked his Harris-supporting neighbor’s trash can on the sidewalk and saw the Trump flag stuck inside.

“I was on the sidewalk,” Muder said. “I knew he had a thing with the Ring camera, so I said, ‘Hey, can you stay off my property?’ I left. It was probably no more than 10 or 15 minutes later that he came to my house screaming and yelling.”

In another neighbor’s surveillance video, shared with FOX 11, you can hear the confrontation and the two talking about the Trump flag. Muder claims he was attacked in his garage.

“He came in, and then he started attacking me,” Muder said. “He knocked me out. I have a bad brain bruise on the back of my head. I got kicked in the face, I think. There was a lot of blood. He left me there- low, practically alone to survive.”

Muder was taken to hospital where he remained for three days. Law enforcement also responded to the scene.

“He could be dead right now and this man didn’t care,” said Lourdes Barrueto, Muder’s wife. “All because we have a Trump flag.”

A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to FOX 11 that they went to a home in Ladera Ranch for a fight this week. A man was taken into custody for assault and battery.

The arrested man would be released on bail. FOX 11 knocked on their door Saturday, but there was no response.

“I would tell him I’m sorry for him,” Muder said. “If you are willing to hurt someone because of your political views, you need serious help.”