Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in February 2020.

This story is about Retired NYPD Detective Daniel Sprague, who was punched in the face while celebrating his birthday at The Stage on Broadway. Sprague had received a “Make Fifty Great Again” hat as a gift from his wife, which he paired with a shirt featuring the American flag and the phrase “Making America Great Since 1970.”

While enjoying the evening with friends, a woman approached Sprague from behind, grabbed his hat, and punched him in the face. Initially, he thought it might be a prank from a friend, but he was shocked to realize the woman was angry about his hat and shirt. Despite the unexpected attack, Sprague did not retaliate.

Both Sprague and the woman were kicked out of the venue, and although he didn’t immediately call the police, he later filed a report with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The report indicated that the woman had grabbed Sprague’s hat and punched him, but Sprague refrained from hitting her back.

Sprague was surprised by the violent reaction, mentioning that while he had received some reactions throughout the night, none had been aggressive until the punch.