Two suspects stole approximately 50 Ward 1 candidate, ‘David Plufka’ campaign yard signs over a period of days in the west end of Brentwood, according to a Brentwood Police report made available to 40 South News on March 23.
40 South News originally reported the theft on March 18.
Police received a call from a witness at 11:31 p.m. on March 17 who said he saw two teens stealing the signs near Pine Avenue and McKnight Road.
Police found the signs in the trunk of the car owned by one of the suspects.
Because the suspects have not been charged, by Plufka’s request, their names are not being published at this time, though they are in the report. Fitzgerald said both are 18 years old.
The police report states the signs were returned to Plufka.
Correction: The suspects were previously identified as Brentwood High School students. Fitzgerald said they are not Brentwood students.
The names ought to be published, Mr. Plufka’s graciousness notwithstanding. Just such a small, temporary measure of civic shame is entirely appropriate in this case.
A homeowner’s freedom of speech is not something to be pranked away. Thankfully, the great majority of M/B/RH kids have already learned this. The ones that haven’t need to be reminded. So do their families.
Yojimbo – It wasn’t an easy decision. I talked with a former Post-Dispatch editor who said if the suspects aren’t charged that takes it off the table right there, so that’s the way I went. The public record can be requested at the PD, if you’re interested.
Blah, blah, blah. 300 hours of community service, each and keep a record of it.
It is pathetic when citizens of this country feel that it is necessary to deny freedom of speech to political candidates that they might not agree with. It happened to me on a regular basis in another community, which is one of the reasons I now live in Maplewood where most people have respect for opposing views. I also understand that a few immature individuals don’t define a community because it happens too frequently everywhere. It’s just a sad statement with respect to a pervasive and subversive attitude regarding the sanctity of our electoral process.