Cops: York Twp. official stole campaign signs

After campaign signs went missing in a heated DuPage County race, York Township Supervisor John W. Valle must appear in court next month to face a charge of attempting to steal those signs.

He also is charged with disorderly conduct.

Lombard police completed a five-week investigation of the incident, which occurred the day before the Feb. 2 primary, and concluded Valle was involved. He surrendered himself to police last Thursday.

Valle could not be reached for comment.

Lombard Deputy Police Chief Dane Cuny said a worker was placing campaign signs near a light pole about 7:40 p.m. Feb. 1 on the 400 block of east Roosevelt Road. The signs promoted Republican county board chairman candidate Debra Olson, who finished second in a heated four-way race to the winner, State Sen. Dan Cronin.

Soon after, Cuny said, Valle took down the signs and placed them in the back of a pickup truck. The campaign worker then called 911.

Police reports say Valle then approached the worker's car, which was parked at Roosevelt Road and Fairfield Avenue.

"He (Valle) was yelling and banging on the window of the complainant's vehicle, which caused alarm and disturbance," Cuny said. "He picked up the signs out of the pickup truck, threw them on the ground ... and did what he did before police arrived."

Cuny added police did not initially know the offender's identity and arrested Valle after the investigation.

Valle was charged and released on $1,000 bond. He is scheduled for a court appearance at 9 a.m. April 16.