close
close

Candidate signs stolen, political flags attacked

Candidate signs stolen, political flags attacked

Election Day is a week away and the latest push appears to be causing tensions to run high among voters in Palm Beach County.

Some of you have contacted WPTV after your politically affiliated properties were victimized.

“When I got to my car, I saw there were all these Republican (signs) scattered around, say no to Amendment 4 signs and candidate signs,” Rolando Barrero said. “And then I turned around and that’s when I noticed my Harris-Walz sign was missing.”

Through doorbell video, Barrero caught a woman trespassing on his property and taking his political sign from the stoop of his home.

She also left other signs for Republican candidates scattered around his yard.

Fearing he was being targeted because of his political beliefs and role as president of the Florida Democratic Hispanic Caucus, he called West Palm Beach police.

“I would like people who violate the law to be documented so that we can identify them later if harm occurs,” Barrero said.

WPBPD told WPTV that they charged the woman with petty theft and that she stole other non-political signs in the area.

WPBPD said they do not specifically track political calls, but said stealing political signals can be a misdemeanor or more depending on the quantity or value.

They said road rage, physical altercation or trespass would be charged as such.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said they have received 49 calls related to political incidents since February. The busiest month was October with 13 calls.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: AMERICA VOTES 2024

Barrero said he plans to install more security cameras around his property for safety. He said WPBPD took the affected signs into evidence and installed a new Harris-Walz sign.

People who supported former President Trump said they have felt the heat, too.

“When it comes to political aggression, do you have experience with it yourself?” asked WPTV reporter Joel Lopez.

“For the most part, we’ve seen a lot of thumbs up and support, but we’re also seeing a lot of middle fingers and a lot of people yelling and screaming at us,” Jestin Nevarez said.

He drives around in a car decorated with Trump flags, stickers and other signage.

He said last weekend a woman with road rage in Boynton Beach tried to rip his flag off his car at a stoplight.

“We can support whoever we want, but these people resorting to violence and ripping off our flags in the middle of traffic, that’s a problem,” Nevarez said.

Political violence in the United States is the worst since the 1970s, with 300 cases identified since 2021, according to a Reuters report.

Scripps content only 2024