SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. — Residents of the St. Tropez condo building in Sunny Isles Beach say they have had issues with the condo board for years.

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The building is located at 150 Sunny Isles Blvd.

One of those residents told Local 10 News’ Brett Knese that they were having their annual meeting where they elect a new condo board last Wednesday when there was an attempt to block people from attending the meeting.

Once people were let in, video shows a man rushing to the ballot box and grabbing the ballots before starting to rip them up. His actions invalidated the election.

That man, who has been identified as 52-year-old Jacob Gold, was arrested on Tuesday.

Residents told Local 10 that Gold is friends with the current condo board president, and they were worried the president was going to be voted out.

Because of his actions, Gold is now facing a misdemeanor charge for interfering with the election.

“You don’t live in a condo expecting to have this happen, that your election is going to be hijacked,” said resident Lyle Brous. “I don’t understand why somebody wants to fight so hard to have an unpaid, unliked situation, to sit on a board where not everyone is going to be happy with you anytime.”

“So at that point a lot of owners tried to stop him to save our election, and it all comes down to -- this person was going to lose the election,” Brous added.

Gold will spend Tuesday night in jail and face a judge on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the building plans to hold another election in a couple weeks.

Residents said they are hopeful it will go much smoother.

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