On October 30th, 2012, officers from the Temecula Police Department responded to a call of a vandalism involving political signage occurring on Jedediah Smith Road and Temecula Parkway. A witness reported seeing a male suspect pulling down and damaging multiple political signs in the area.

The witness followed and confronted the suspect who fled on foot after a verbal altercation occurred. The witness was able to photograph the male suspect before he fled the scene. The witness then called the police to report the incident. Officers from the Temecula Police Department responded to the scene and later located the male suspect in the 41000 block of Moreno Road, Temecula.

The suspect, Leland Barrett Mark, 67 years of age, from Temecula, was identified by the witness and placed under arrest for vandalizing the political signage and challenging another to fight in public. Mr. Mark was later booked into the Southwest Detention Center.

The Temecula Police Department would like to remind all citizens that the taking or damaging of political signs is a violation of the law. Anyone apprehended after the unlawful taking or damaging of political signage is subject to arrest and prosecution.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000.