An apparent scuffle broke out after a recess at Wednesday’s Bainbridge Island City Council meeting between a former councilman and another man in the audience.

The confrontation occurred just after the council took a recess after a contentious debate over the immediate firing of City Manager Brenda Bauer.

Several witnesses said Robert Dashiell, who ran unsuccessfully for the council against Councilwoman Sarah Blossom in November, appeared to push former councilman Bill Knobloch across a table near the exit to council chambers.

Bystanders then separated the two.

An officer for the Bainbridge Island Police Department detained both men in the lobby of city hall as another officer was called to the scene shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Knobloch argued with Dashiell in the lobby as the first officer waited for another officer to arrive.

“You don’t punch someone in public,” Knobloch told Dashiell.

“I didn’t punch you,” Dashiell replied.

Officers separated the men and one took Knobloch outside of city hall, while another kept Dashiell inside the building.