A number of people are accused of stealing campaign signs connected to one of the most controversial propositions on the November ballot. Proposition 8 would overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that authorized same-sex marriages.
A 28-year-old woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing "Yes on 8" campaign signs in Carlsbad, police said.
Officers arrested Kimberly Erlenwein after they were told signs were being stolen from the center median of Carlsbad Village Drive, according to authorities. Elven campaign signs in favor of Prop 8 were found in Erlenwein's vehicle, police said. The signs were photographed and returned to a "Yes on 8" representative. Erlenwein was cited and released.
Erlenwine told a local television station she was not stealing the signs but removing them. She also reportedly said she didn't know she was breaking the law.
A second arrest was announced Friday. According to Carlsbad police, a citizen called in to report someone removing "Yes on 8" signs from El Camino Real and College Boulevard Thursday. Working with a suspect description, police searched the area and arrested 31-year old Vernon Tisdall. Officers say Tisdall had 11 stolen signs in his possession.
Carlsbad police say they have two other cases from Thursday evening involving campaign sign theft. In one reported on Carlsbad Village Drive, officers found signs in a suspect car and say charges are pending.
In another case near North Tamarack Avenue and College Boulevard, a witness provided a license plate and suspect description. That investigation is in progress.
