Titusville mayoral candidate accused of stealing opponent's campaign signs

Candidate accused of stealing opponent's signs

A Titusville mayor candidate is under investigation for allegedly stealing her opponent’s campaign signs. The State Attorney’s Office confirmed on Tuesday to FOX 35 News that both Vickie Conklin and her campaign manager, Earl Johnson Jr., are being charged with petit theft relating to the incident.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. - A Titusville mayor candidate is under investigation for allegedly stealing her opponent’s campaign signs.

The State Attorney’s Office confirmed on Tuesday to FOX 35 News that both Vickie Conklin and her campaign manager, Earl Johnson Jr., are being charged with petit theft relating to the incident.

It unfolded at the Titusville Library, which is an early voting location and jam-packed with election signs all over the grass.

Titusville Police said Conklin took down two of her opponent’s signs and admitted to it on body camera video. Police released the entire interaction with both Conklin, her campaign manager and a witness on Tuesday. At one point during the questioning, Conklin showed officers where she found the signs she said weren't hers and were close to her tent.

"I looked at it was like holy smokes. There was no identification on it. Who put this up?," said Conklin during the bodycam interview.

Titusville police said the signs were put up by her opponent, Andrew Connors.

"It’s extremely troubling to us that our agency has been thrown into this mess," said Titusville’s police chief, John Lau.

Lau said a photo taken by a witness was a main piece of evidence in their investigation. The chief said the picture showed Conklin holding a hammer wearing a name tag. He said it was taken by a person who allegedly saw her removing the signs overnight at the library and confronted her.