The Perryville Police Department is investigating a defaced political sign on private property opposing Amendment 3, which, if passed, would end Missouri’s abortion ban.
The sign at 318 Rolla St. was tarnished with red spray paint, leaving the message still legible but making it abundantly clear that the vandal(s) disagreed with the viewpoint expressed.
The property owner, Pam Muench — a member of the Perry County Republican Central Committee — reported the act of vandalism to the police on Oct. 22. According to Muench, when she contacted the Republican committee to ask if she should replace the sign, they said, “Let’s just leave it up. You’ll get more attention that way.”
Then Muench received a call from the police department.
“One of the cops was interested in finding out who did it, so I filed a report, and they’re investigating,” she said. “Politics gets really dirty. Politics turns people from friends to enemies. It’s just a bad deal, and it’s sad that it has to be that way.”
According to Cpl. Jerri Cane, the Perryville Police Department is also investigating the theft of a political sign by a group of juveniles on Oct. 11. They are expected to be charged with vandalizing, stealing or destroying a political sign.
According to Missouri statute, anyone convicted of violating a class 4 election law, a misdemeanor, will be punished by imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than $2,500 or both.
