WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. -- The daughter of U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon was arrested early Friday morning, accused by police of striking a man with her shoe outside a bar, causing a laceration under his left eye.

Katie Weldon, 21, was arrested at 1:40 a.m. at the County Line Saloon, located at 4650 W. New Haven in West Melbourne. She was charged with battery.

According to an arrest affidavit, the incident was witnessed by a security officer at the bar.

Katie Weldon was arrested and transported to the Brevard County Jail. She was released on a $500 bond.

Meanwhile, Dave Weldon, a Republican who represents District 15 of Florida -- which covers southern Brevard -- announced his intention to retire from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of the 110th Congress.

The representative defended his daughter in a statement released on Friday.

"Mrs. Weldon and I have been made of aware of an incident involving our daughter last night. After talking with her we feel quite certain she did nothing to merit her arrest and believe this will be collaborated by others. We stand by our daughter's assertion in this matter and ask that her privacy be observed until all the facts are out," Dave Weldon said.

Citing a desire to return to medical practice and devote more time to his family, Dave Weldon extended his thanks to those who helped him through his seven terms in Congress.

"I want to thank my wife Nancy and my kids for all the support over these many years, as well as my staff and the people who supported my re-election efforts. It is a very big undertaking to run and successfully serve, and I would never have been able to do it were it not for the generous help of so many fine people," said Weldon.

Dave Weldon, who practiced medicine in the Army and in private practice in Melbourne was first elected to Congress in 1994. Then, he was part of a Republican wave that took control of the House and Senate with a conservative "Contract with America."

"He's made very clear that he wasn't going to live in Congress," Jeremy Steffens, press secretary for the Indialantic Republican, told Local 6 news partner Florida Today. "He wants to spend more time with his family and plans to return to his home."

Dave Weldon was on a Republican retreat in West Virginia and did not plan to make any public comments.

The seven-term congressman is known for his conservative voting record. He also holds a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, which has helped him secure money for NASA during budget negotiations. For much of Weldon's tenure in Congress, his district included Kennedy Space Center. KSC now is part of the district represented by Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oveido, but Dave Weldon has remained an advocate for spaceflight and the shuttle program.

Democrat Nancy Higgs, a former Brevard County commissioner, was expected to announce on Friday her plans to run for Dave Weldon's seat.

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