Sheriff's election signs stolen
Richfield police and the Sevier County Sheriff's Office are investigating the theft of more than 20 signs and banners belonging to Sheriff Phil Barney's re-election campaign.
"They don't like me, I guess," Barney told the Deseret Morning News on Tuesday. The sheriff estimates he's out about $1,000 for the signs.
Police said the signs and banners promoting Barney's re-election campaign began disappearing a few weeks ago. Someone spotted the thief pulling a sign out of a yard in Richfield and called the sheriff's office.
"We have a description of a vehicle and a suspect," said Sevier County Sheriff's Capt. Gary Reid. "He was seen by one of the places where he took a sign from."
Barney said he did not believe the signs were being taken by his opponent, former Sevier County sheriff's chief deputy Delbert Lloyd, but perhaps a supporter of his.
"I don't think he would stoop to that," Barney said of his opponent.
Lloyd said he did not know who is stealing signs.
"If it were somebody supporting me I'd turn 'em in," he said Tuesday. "I hope it's not because they're supporting me."
"The sheriff explained that he could not have a man, who he believed to be disloyal, working as his chief deputy," Lloyd wrote.
Barney said Lloyd resigned on his own.
Because of the value of the signs, the theft would be a felony. Barney said he has a suspect in mind and believes it's retaliation for "political reasons." Asked about a conflict of interest in having his office investigate his campaign sign thefts, Barney said once deputies gather enough information, he'll ask an outside agency to handle it.
"I've called my officers in and said there's no retaliation," he said. "We will put up more signs."
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
You can be the first to comment on this story.