There were dozens of reports of political signs being vandalized across the Verde Valley in the run-up to the 2024 general elections.

“I think it’s because they get emotional about a particular candidate or issue and they just get angry and put it on a billboard,” said Yavapai County Schools Superintendent-elect Steve King. [R] Said. “I think [it] You just force them to do something stupid and illegal. I don’t think it’s organized or a conspiracy. But I think it’s more of an emotional thing than anything else. ”

On July 4, Dr. King reported to Prescott police that Stephen Woods, the husband of his primary Republican rival, Carla Woods, had removed one of the signs.

Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019 makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor to “intentionally remove, alter, deface, or obscure political signs of a candidate for public office or to support or oppose a ballot measure.” I am.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s sign wasn’t the only one damaged, stolen or vandalized. Not all crimes were reported to law enforcement. What was included:

sedona

▪ June 11: Criminal damage to Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Donna Michaels sign. [D] At Cook’s Hill. Estimated price is $400.

▪ Aug. 5: Theft of two signs along Sunshine Court. No estimates or political affiliations given.

▪ Sept. 1: Five signs supporting Kali Lake Republican Senate candidate along Kachina Street receive criminal damage. Estimates not shown.

▪ Sept. 22: A Kamala Harris-Tim Walz sign valued at $25 was stolen from Dry Creek Road and North Slopes Drive.

▪ Sept. 25: Two Harris Waltz signs valued at $100 were stolen along Sandstone Drive.

▪ September 26: Criminal damage to $30 Harris Waltz sign along Barcelona Street.

▪ September 29: Two Harris Waltz signs valued at $50 were stolen along Barcelona Road.

▪ Oct. 6: Criminal damage to $20 worth of signs opposing Sedona’s Proposition 483 at Del Sol Avenue and SR 89A.

▪ Oct. 9: A sign worth $20 opposing Sedona’s Proposition 483 was stolen from Del Sol Avenue and SR 89A.

▪ Oct. 20: Attempted theft of Donald Trump sign at Airport Road and SR 89A. Oct. 26: SPD documented “suspicious” activity along Arrowhead Road related to signs supporting Arizona Congressman Quang Nguyen. [R-District 1]. “The sign was removed from the ground and left undamaged,” said SPD Recorder Megan Turner.

▪ Oct. 30: An inverted swastika was spray-painted on a pro-Trump sign on the east side of SR 89A at Foothills South Drive.

cotton wood

▪ September 2: Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Candidate Nikki Check. [D] Two signs were reported down at South Willard and East Mingus Avenue. The Cottonwood Police Department said the sign was “removed and thrown into nearby brush, but was not damaged or stolen.”

▪ “We had about 20 small signs removed or beaten up and then replaced or repaired,” Cech said.

▪ Sept. 11: A Harris sign was damaged at South Main Street and SR 89A, but “extent and value of damage is unknown,” according to CPD. Reporters said nine of Harris’ 11 signs were missing and that she was hurled homophobic slurs while installing the signs over the weekend of September 20th.

“The sign was still on the ground,” the reporter said. “The actual signs just disappeared. So they weren’t down.”

▪ Sept. 19: CPD says a political sign at S. Willard Street and East Tierra Verde Drive was “removed and thrown over a fence, but no damage was observed.” The reporting party stated that it was a Harris Sign and that she filed two reports with CPD due to separate Harris Sign incidents. She also said she would sign on for Arizona District 2 candidate Jonathan Nez. [D] Arizona Corporation Commission Candidate Ylenia Aguilar [D] It had been tampered with.

▪ Oct. 1: A political sign was stolen from E. Aspen Street and Brian Mikkelsen Parkway. Media reports include six near E. Rodeo Drive and Highway 260, three near E. Farr Street and 260, three at the intersection of SR 89A and 260, and three on South 12th Street. , said more Trump signs they had put up were removed. And SR89A.

▪ Oct. 9: A Harris Waltz sign was stolen from 690 W. SR 89A and “various other locations,” according to CPD. The reporting party stated that another Harris sign was stolen near 1519 SR 89A.

▪ Oct. 16: A sign was damaged and reported stolen at Willard Street and Mingus Avenue.

clarkdale

▪ Sept. 23: A Democratic Party sign valued at $10 was stolen from private property in Upper Clarkdale.

▪ Oct. 14: The theft of a Republican sign valued at $10 occurred on private property on Ranney Lane.

▪ Oct. 18: Two news organizations claim Democratic candidate signs were stolen from seven homes in Upper Clarkdale.

▪ Oct. 19: Two signs for Democratic candidates were reported missing and several others toppled, with an estimated value of $40, along Old Jerome Highway.

“Several residents reported the theft of political signs this week,” Clarkdale Town officials wrote in an Oct. 25 message. “In either case, there are no leads. Officers are conducting additional patrols.”

jerome

▪ Aug. 11: Criminal damage to a sign in the area of ​​Dundee Avenue and Hampshire Avenue. A male suspect was seen on a resident’s camera, but Jerome police were unable to identify him.

▪ Aug. 19: A sign theft crime was reported in the area of ​​SR 89A and Dundee Avenue. The victim reported that fragments of the sign were left at the scene and he thought it happened the day before.

▪ Aug. 20: A sign was stolen in the area of ​​Dundee Avenue and Hampshire Avenue “The victim captured a light-colored sedan on video, but there was no identifying information,” said Lt. Russell San Felice. said. “[We] They were unable to obtain a license plate or identify the suspect. ”

▪ Aug. 22: Damage to a sign was reported in the 100 block of Dundee Lane, and “a civilian captured the blue vehicle on camera, but due to the lack of identifying information, the incident could not be solved,” the Sun reported. Felice said. .

▪ Aug. 31: Criminal damage to a sign in the 100 block of Dundee Lane. “We were able to close this case with a citation and release,” San Felice said.

▪ Oct. 15: The 713 Main St. sign was temporarily removed. “The suspect was identified and the sign was removed because they claimed it was blocking the view of their driveway when they were out and that it was dangerous, and if they wanted to do that, they needed to remove the sign. ‘Call the authorities,’ San Felice said. “The victim took back the traces and said he was not interested in prosecuting…and that he was going to take them further.”

▪ Oct. 15: Seven signs were missing from the 900 block of Hampshire Avenue at Dundee Lane. Five of the signs were recovered, and the suspect denied any involvement in the disappearance of the two signs that were not recovered. JPD said there is no reason to believe the suspect was involved in the disappearance of the other two signs.

“There was a suspect who admitted to removing some of the signs, but not stealing them,” San Felice said. “[They] We put them somewhere else and they recovered them, but we didn’t press charges. The victim in that incident was safe. [because] He took the sign back and it was returned to him. ”

▪ October 16: Four signs were reported stolen from SR 89A and North Drive between 9pm and 3pm the previous day. No suspect was identified.

▪ Oct. 22: Three signs were reported stolen at SR 89A and Douglas Road. There are no suspects.

Yavapai County and Camp Verde

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Camp Verde Sheriff’s Office are using this code because their computer systems do not have specific code for political sign theft, only general theft. The newspaper said it could not provide a list of stolen or damaged election signs during the election season. Christine Green, YCSO spokesperson.

Administrative Commander Darby Martin said, “We literally have to go back and read every crime report to see if there is any political sign in it,” and the CVMO is currently investigating theft of political signs. He added that he is considering adding code for this to the software. “Then you can go back and look at it. But there’s no way to go back and look at it because no one has ever asked for that before.”

Democratic organizer Kat Ginzel said she reported the “cut” Harris sign at the intersection of Vice Road and E. Beaver Creek Road to YCSO on Oct. 12.

“[YCSO] They seized that as evidence, they came out here and took pictures… there was a lot,” Ginzel said, followed by 10 more Harris signs missing around Rimrock overnight. He added that it has become. Ginzel said she also noticed some signs on public land that did not comply with state law.

Joe D., a Camp Verde resident, said that “about two weeks ago,” he drove from 403 and 650 Finney Flat Road, Highway 260 and Main Street, and 555 West Middle Verde Road to Harris Sign 4. He said he had reported two cases of theft.

Camp Verde resident Dave T. said his Harris sign has been removed at Camp Verde since Oct. 8. He put up 18 to 20 signs each week, most of which disappeared within a few days. He said he reported it to the CVMO on Oct. 21 and Oct. 26, and the CVMO “only wanted one location” for the theft, at the intersection of Main Street and South Montezuma Castle Highway. He said he has listed.