MIRAMAR, Fla. -- Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm during his arraignment Friday.

Salesman allegedly pulled a gun on a shopper inside a Winn Dixie store on Nov. 21. He was arraigned before Judge Martin Bidwell.

In the courthouse following his arraignment, Salesman said that he took "defensive actions" at the supermarket at 3108 South University Drive because he felt threatened and didn't want to be a "statistic."

The alleged victims Roderick Harris and Laza Vious Hudson told Local 10 that Salesman began arguing with them in the checkout line. Hudson and Salesman began arguing after Salesman began to talk loudly about the long lines at the store.

Hudson said that Salesman then stood directly in front of the shopping cart Hudson was using, preventing him from leaving the store. When he became frustrated, Hudson told Salesman that they should "take the argument outside." At one point Salesman brandished a .45 caliber handgun he had tucked into the waistband of his pants, according to police.

Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Salesman and a special election in Miramar is scheduled on March 11 to temporarily fill his seat.

Salesman's attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, said that his client was merely defending himself.

"The victim, the alleged victim in this case admitted that he was going to take Mr. Salesman outside and fight him. That's in the statements," said Schwartzreich.

"We're hopeful and we hope that when we go in front of a jury that this will be fleshed out in the courtroom and we hope that the right verdict will come down and he will be found not guilty," he said.