TOLLAND, Conn. — A Manchester man was arrested and charged in connection with the vandalism of a Tolland Democrats pride sign on Tuesday, police said. It was the third time the sign had been vandalized in recent months.
David Paquette, 34, of Manchester, was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree. Paquette was released on a $2500 bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on October 11.
On Tuesday morning, Connecticut State Police were called to the area of Exit 68 on the Interstate 84 eastbound on-ramp for a report of an individual actively damaging property.
When they arrived, troopers saw that over a dozen rainbow-colored flags had been torn and cut from the Tolland Democrats sign, which is located on private property adjacent to the I-84 eastbound on-ramp.
Troopers were able to identify Paquette based on video evidence provided by a witness. Connecticut State Troopers located the suspect at his home in Manchester.
The signs were vandalized twice before.
On July 17, a former Tolland resident wrote she witnessed the person vandalize the sign on Sunday and shared pictures of a man with a spray can in his hand and his motorcycle with a Connecticut license plate parked in the grass.
On August 4, the sign was vandalized for a second time and was found toppled over in the grass. The wood appeared to be sawed off.
Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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