LENOIR, NC (October 25, 2016)…The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office along with the Lenoir Police Department arrested and charged three high school students with stealing political signs advertising for the Donald Trump and Mike Pence campaign.
17-year-old Aurora Elizabeth Solis of Hickory, 16-year-old Yamied Vasquez Rueda of Newton and 16-year-old Brandon Alonzo Castorena of Conover were each charged with stealing political signs and possession of stolen property. They were each to be released to the custody of their parents this afternoon. All three are students at Newton-Conover High School in Catawba County.
Officers received an anonymous tip around noon today that someone driving a silver Ford Focus was stopping and pulling up Trump/Pence political signs along Highway 321 in Caldwell County.
Sgt. Jonathan Kirby with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office spotted the car in Valmead and with assistance from a Lenoir Police Department Officer pulled the vehicle.
According to the reports, the three admitted to stealing numerous political signs across the Unifour area and officers found 12 signs in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.
“We are here to enforce the law and protect the rights of all candidates,” says Sheriff Alan Jones of Caldwell County.
The investigation is continuing.