Police are warning the public of a potential risk after political signs in Montville were tampered with.
Montville police and the residential trooper are investigating after they discovered large pieces of plywood with large metal nails protruding upwards placed at local political road signs on Oct. 26 in the area of Old Colchester and Forsyth Roads.
The devices were found under three signs that were on the shoulder of the road and concealed with loose grass to avoid detection, police said.
Police said the devices posed a threat to pedestrians and drivers. They theorize they devices could have been used to defend against vandals.
"A kid could have really gotten hurt and thankfully that didn’t happen," Tara Crossley, a Democratic candidate for the board of education, said.
Crossley lives near where the boards were found.
"Bringing this much attention to it, I would think people would want to think twice," Crossley said.
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Investigators and police said vandalism to campaign signs is not uncommon, but something like this is extreme. Candidates said this campaign season has been filled with signs being swiped or destroyed, including being run over.
"I just hope whoever is doing it, just stop, you know, just stop," Jeff Rogers, a Republican candidate for town council, said.
Police would not identify which candidate signs were involved or if they all belonged to the same political party.
Either way many are hopeful the rest of the campaign season is more positive.
"We’ve got another ten days to go and let’s get through it and move on to the next chapter," Rogers said.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to call Lt. Bunnell at (860) 892-6107 or Resident Trooper Sergeant Mark Juhola at (860) 848-7040. The tip line may also be called at (860) 892-6191.
