Lake Co. dispatcher suspected in sign sabotage

A 11-year dispatcher for the Lake County sheriff's office has been placed on paid leave after being investigated for campaign sabotage.

Sheriff Mark Curran said Monday that Shantel Taylor, who finished first among 10 candidates in the race for two seats on the Zion city council, is believed to have stolen some of her opponent's campaign signs and thrown them into the trash at the sheriff's substation in Libertyville where she works.

Curran said Taylor was caught on videotape removing campaign signs from her car trunk and walking toward the garbage collection area on March 28.

Another office employee claims to have seen Taylor throw the signs in the trash and a third employee found the signs in the garbage, Curran said. Curran said the matter has been referred to the Lake County state's attorney's office for possible criminal charges.

Taylor could not be reached for comment Monday.