and urinated on it were caught on videotape "
Tell your neighbors and friends about
the Bush-Cheney sign trapping program.
My solution under fall leaves.
Just Joking! hehehe....
Posted on 10/09/2004 8:10:00 AM PDT by Deadeye Division
Men videotaped vandalizing sign
Summit elections official catches culprits tearing down Bush-Cheney poster
By Marilyn Miller and Andale Gross
Beacon Journal staff writers
Two men who tore down a Bush-Cheney sign and urinated on it were caught on videotape by Summit County Republican officials early Friday morning.
The videotape shows the men sneaking into the yard of a West Market Street home and bending the sign to the ground. The men struggled to rip the sign out of the ground by shaking it and pulling it but couldn't get it off the posts, so they knocked it down. Sounds heard on the tape suggest the men urinated on the sign. They were white males, about 30 to 35 years old, well-dressed and well-groomed. They parked across the street in what police think was a foreign car, a Toyota or Honda.
The homeowner, Steve Kotsatos, who is also assistant to the director of the Summit County Board of Elections, called Akron police dispatchers at 10:38 a.m. Friday and told them about how his campaign sign was vandalized.
He said he caught the vandals on a night-vision camera he had installed the day before.
``A couple of days ago my neighbor's sign was set on fire with a blowtorch so I figured I might be next,'' Kotsatos said. ``This is not only criminal damaging but a safety hazard.''
The large 4-by-8-foot, red, white and blue sign was tipped over in Kotsatos' yard about 1 a.m. Friday.
John Kerry's name was scrawled across Bush's name in black marker on one side of the sign -- the work of previous vandals, Kotsatos said.
He discovered the bent sign at 6:45 a.m.
Police took a report of the incident and retrieved a copy of the videotape to review. No arrests have been made.
Akron police Lt. Sylvia Trundle said depending on the amount of damage -- officials estimate the sign's value at $200 to $400 -- the culprits could be charged with vandalism, but if the value is $500 or more they could face criminal damaging or criminal mischief charges. They are all misdemeanors and would carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Local Republicans and Democrats say the stealing and damaging of campaign signs has been worse this presidential race than in past races. In some cases, the signs have been shredded and burned.
According to the Summit County Republican Party, about 3,000 of the 4,000 signs the GOP has handed out supporting Bush and Cheney have been taken from yards or damaged.
More than 1,000 signs backing Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., and running mate Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., have been taken from yards, according to the Summit County Democratic Party.
Both parties deny taking part in any sign stealing.
Even political leaders like Summit GOP Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff and Summit Democratic Party Finance Chairman Wayne Jones have seen their signs targeted.
Officials in Medina, Wayne and Portage counties also have reported thefts of campaign signs.
Area police departments say they investigate sign theft complaints when they get them. They say it's best when a description of the vandals or their vehicle can be given.
Kotsatos said he had a Bush sign in his yard four years ago and nobody bothered it. The Republican Party is looking into a possible $1,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the men.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or 800-777-7232 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com. Andale Gross can be reached at 330-996-3743 or agross@thebeaconjournal.com.
"Because that won't do ANY good. "
Are you absolutely sure of that?
Posters with their names faces and addresses everywhere?
How is that running to the teacher?
Tell your neighbors and friends about
the Bush-Cheney sign trapping program.
My solution under fall leaves.
Just Joking! hehehe....
"Watch out for Kristallnact 2004 the night of November 3"
Unlike the Jews of that day, many, many of us are armed, prepared and in a funny sort of way - looking forward to it.
I'll bet that was fun. A stake out. :-)
Excellent job on catching the culprits!
Taking pictures and videos in a hopeless attempt to shame the shameless is just that ... a hopeless and useless endeavor that only demonstates to thepunks that they can do whatever they want.
You're missing the point.
If they have their names, addresses, faces, license plates, and proof of their behavior released to the public, who's going to trust them?
And how is doing the "John" posters running to the teacher?
You didn't answer that.
You're also missing a second point.
Commiting crime to 'get back' at someone is NOT responsible adult behavior.
Why risk arrest?
Instead, get public outrage at their behavior such that they will be forced to stop their activity.
Neighborhoods that are looking out for KNOWN punks and let said punks know they are being watched tend to not have such problems.
Police intervention not needed there.
Maybe in your world not in mine. So here it is ... three or four guys standing by the car that magically has a broken taillight will send a message stronger than a video to the shameless. If the perps call the police ... no one saw anything but the punks vandalizing someones property ... They would NOT call the police but I guarantee you that the punks will NOT be back.
BUT here's a challenge ... If and when ANYTHING legally is done to these punks that causes them to change their behavior ...you post it to me.If I am wrong I will gladly say so publically ... if not then my point will be made.
"Maybe in your world not in mine."
Now you're just being insulting.
Especially for a guy who supposedly has alot of respect.
I'm not about to break the law to nail someone.
Come into my house to vandalise something, they're toast.
On my lawn, for some insane reason, NY state doesn't see anything like that as being an 'immediate threat' and would see baseball batting the car as vandalism with intent to intimidate 'aka' "terroristic threats."
You're adamant on breaking the law and behaving in 'other than adult' ways by baseball batting the Dimiot's car.
Let me know how it turns out for you.
Laters.
Good, at least some of them are getting caught. All the Bush-Cheney signs in my neighborhood (in Gainesville, FL) were stolen last night.
"Good, at least some of them are getting caught. All the Bush-Cheney signs in my neighborhood (in Gainesville, FL) were stolen last night."
Yeah, having the signs stolen is a nuisance, but I love it that the Libs are in a panic. All I can say to the Democrats is that "P!ssing on a sign never fed a hungry child."
BTTT
What about a civil rights violation here. Talk about an attempt of voter intimidation.
I hope the local news ran the tape, and the paper printed pictures from it. Once again we see the true side of LIBERAL FUNDAMENTALISTS.
Oh my. We get the AB Journal on the weekends and the story was in today's edition, then I see it on FR. Thanks for mentioning that the video was online or we wouldn't have known.
I had to laugh at the video, two grown men ripping down a sign on private property because they disagree with it politically, what idiots they look like. And I've little doubt that they were urinating on it at the end.
Also, both men's faces seem clear enough to identify, should only be a matter of time.
Sign Brownshirts ping.
I am afraid that the better this keeps going for the Good Guys - the more fanatical and violent the wrong guys are apt to get. Hope I'm wrong, but here in the Seattle area - I'm afraid the freaks are going to lose it. They tried to destroy the downtown area with one of their tantrums, I hate to think what they might try if they really feel like their free rides might be at stake.
"Neighborhoods that are looking out for KNOWN punks and let said punks know they are being watched tend to not have such problems."
I'll vouch for that method, it's starting to work around here. The druggies and perps never know what hits em. Heh heh...pull the rug out from under them.
Bump
I suggest a pit trap with pungi sticks.
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