XENIA — Several campaign signs belonging to city council candidate Michael Engle have been destroyed and/or removed during the last few weeks and the council president is calling for it to stop.
“I’m asking the community to take this matter seriously,” he said. “This behavior is against the law.”
Engle first noticed a vandalized sign Oct. 7 near a neighbor’s house. Signs were also stolen from residences on El Camino Drive, Reid Avenue and Second Street as well as near the former Kmart building, near McDonald’s on North Detroit Street and at the intersection of Upper Bellbrook Road and Colorado Drive.
In some cases, Engle said, “curiously enough, new signs were put into my sign’s former location that endorsed two (opposing) councilmen.”
“I’m very disheartened by the vandalism that’s taking place,” Engle said. “It’s very unfortunate that some individuals stoop to vandalism. Even when I disagree with someone, I always seek to be respectful. It’s what Xenia should expect from it’s elected leaders.”
Engle filed a police report on Oct. 8 and filed another Thursday regarding the latest round of damage.
“I filed a police report not because the sign was valuable, but because this behavior is illegal,” he said.
Engle has asked for the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
“If you have any evidence who is responsible for these cowardly action, please contact the Xenia Police Division,” Engle said.
