Keith Olbermann, a brash and ultra-liberal TV talk show host, fanned the flames Tuesday of an already controversial arrest and pepper spray incident involving a San Diego County sheriff's deputy at a fundraiser for U.S. Congressional candidate Francine Busby.

Olbermann designated Deputy Marshall Abbott his "Worst Person In the World," an over-the-top criticism the host levels during a regular segment on each of his "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" shows on MSNBC.

His criticism comes after Abbott pepper-sprayed and arrested Shari Barman, 60, the hostess at Friday night's fundraiser in Cardiff. Abbott also pepper-sprayed several of the partygoers who tried to stop the arrest. The distinction placed Abbott in the company of Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh, two of Olbermann's most criticized public figures, who also were targeted in the same segment Tuesday night.

Barman and others at the party, including Busby, claim the deputy used excessive and unwarranted force. Sheriff's officials say Barman refused to answer Abbott's questions, walked away from him and then rushed him.

The Sheriff's Department announced Monday it has launched an internal affairs investigation into the incident.