The local presidential campaign escalated to the point of police involvement Sunday over the issue of political signs.
As a result, charges are pending, Logan Township Police Chief Ron Heller said.
Frank Rosenhoover, Blair County Democratic Committee chairman, said he saw someone he first thought was placing signs for Democrat Barack Obama. After seeing a nearby vehicle with a Republican sticker, Rosenhoover said he realized the man was taking the signs.
Roosenhoover said Democratic committee members later found the vehicle at the Blair County Republican Victory Center on Logan Boulevard in Lakemont. Rosenhoover said they saw a stack of Obama signs inside the vehicle.
Rosenhoover called Logan Township police about 6:15 p.m. and described the man, who was later identified as Mike Jennings, a member of the Blair County Republican Committee who coordinates the McCain campaign locally.
"I can't believe it," Rosenhoover said. "What has this campaign come to? What does that tell you?"
Jennings told the Mirror Sunday that he took the signs during daylight hours. He said he had nothing to hide and he planned to take the signs to the Democratic office later that evening. He said he was not cited when he told police the same story.
Heller agreed that the suspect wasn't cited, but he said that his department probably will file receiving stolen property against the him, although Heller would not identify Jennings.
"They were in plain view in the vehicle. Our officers made contact and seized the signs. They were returned to Mr. Rosenhoover," Heller said.
Forty signs were recovered, Heller said. One of the signs was taken from Juniata Gap Road, but it was unclear whether the location was in the township or Altoona.
Jennings said he was making a statement after he said hundreds of McCain signs disappeared from area yards this fall. He said McCain signs were taken from an entire neighborhood one night recently, and about 30 Obama signs showed up in the median of Logan Boulevard the same night.
"We're not into stealing stuff," he said. "The average citizen feels powerless when this stuff happens. It's a point of pride when they put them in their yards."
About 30 minutes before Jennings carried out his plan, he said a couple came into the Republican office and wanted 50 signs to replace those taken from yards along Coupon Road from Ashville to Ebensburg in Cambria County.
Jennings said he took signs only from public property, including roadway medians. While it is illegal to place political signs in public right-of-ways, police previously have said they only remove signs that obstruct drivers' views.
Blair County Republican Chairman A.C. Stickel did not comment on Sunday's events, saying he did not know the details.
"People are exhausted, they're excited, all sorts of emotions are running high," he said. "It's just something that's unfortunate that happens."
Any charges would be filed before Magisterial District Judge Steven D. Jackson, Heller said.
