CHANDLER, Ariz. — Charges against a Chandler City Councilman have been dismissed without prejudice in an incident in which a witness reported he and his wife were involved in vandalizing a political sign.
According to the original complaint, Harris was charged with defacing a political sign and criminal damage to property.
On Wednesday, Councilman OD Harris told ABC15 that the charges against him were dismissed because court documents said the state did not have probable cause to support the charges listed in the complaint. ABC15 obtained these court documents and confirmed that the charges were dismissed.
ABC15’s previous reporting on this incident is in the video player above
The Chandler Police Department recently filed charges against O.D. Harris and his wife, Elizabeth Ward, after an investigation revealed they were allegedly involved in vandalizing political signs near Chandler Mall in late July. . There are signs of opposition to OD Harris ahead of his re-election campaign.
City police referred the case to the Scottsdale City Attorney outside the city, citing a conflict of interest with his current position on the City Council.
According to a police report, a woman was seen tearing down an anti-OD sign near Chandler Boulevard and Hearthstone Way on July 28, days before the city election.
Witnesses told police they believed Harris was the driver of the car.
Harris said he was in the area that day to fix the signs because many of them had been stolen, according to the report.
The original document further stated that Harris told investigators that he was in the car but his wife was outside and that he did not want to comment on what his wife was doing. are.
In Arizona, theft or destruction of political signs is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Harris won re-election at the end of July.
A spokesperson for the city of Scottsdale said prosecutors disagree with the dismissal and are currently evaluating what legal remedies and options should be pursued.
