Neon political posters glued to Henrico businesses draw police reports

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) - Neon political posters glued to businesses, apartment buildings and other structures across Central Virginia are drawing different reactions days before the midterm elections.

The posters call out the high cost of living and include a message to vote.

Some people see the posters as a call to action. Property owners see vandalism.

Rob Matzell, owner of Willow Lawn Service Center off West Broad Street, arrived at work early Wednesday morning at about 6:00 a.m. to find posters glued across his storefront.

He noticed “a glimmer of color where it’s normally white.” The posters were on the back of the customer lounge area, he said.

He first tried to pull the poster down, thinking it was one big sheet, but it shredded and stayed stuck to the building before reporting the vandalism to Henrico police.

Matzell said removing the posters will cost him money.

“I’ve got manpower that’s going to have to be paid to do that, whether it’s power washing, scraping, sanding, repainting, whatever. So, it’s an inconvenience for me. It’s a cost for me. And as a small business owner, I can only afford so much,” Matzell said.

Matzell said the posters are permanent stickers that leave residue when peeled. He said the wall is not glass and he cannot scrape the posters without damaging the paint.

He said no one asked permission to put them up.

Matzell doesn’t have a cost quote yet but expects the cleanup to cost “hundreds of dollars.”

He said the business has been spray painted before, which he said is easier to clean because he can just paint over it.

Matzell supports peaceful demonstrations, but draws the line at defacing property.

“And now I’m looking at additional charges. I’ve got to pay because someone’s trying to make a statement. If they want to come here with banners, if they want to, hold their billboards up, protest peacefully without causing destruction to anything or property, that’s perfectly fine. But don’t destroy somebody’s property,” Matzell said.

Matzell said the business is family-owned and has operated since 1968. He said it tries not to take part in political messaging.

“We don’t have anything to do with gas prices. We sell gas,” Matzell said.

The posters target rising living costs. They call out high prices for gas, rent and groceries.

Bea Mateos y Lago lives near one of the posters on South Belvidere Street.

“I mean, it definitely caught my attention. I like the colors, and I agree with the message. So my first thought was, damn right,” Mateos y Lago said.

Mateos y Lago also spoke about gas prices and when asked whether the message is important right now.

“I think so. I think gas prices have been consistently high for a chunk of time. I think people have been more and more impacted by it,” Mateos y Lago said. “I guess I understand why that would be something the police would want to investigate. I am not personally bothered by it. Of course it is not on my property, but I think it’s an important message.”

Henrico Police said they received three similar calls for service about signs glued to the sides of businesses between Oct. 20 and Oct. 28 at the following places:

• 6000 block of West Broad Street on Oct. 20
• 1100 block of Wilkinson Road on Oct. 24
• 5300 block of West Broad Street on Oct. 28

Henrico Police said two vandalism reports were created, and officers have been assigned to follow up and investigate. Police said there is no suspect information to share, and it is too early to determine the exact charges that may apply.

Richmond Police are handling another complaint at Common Table Church on South Harrison Street, where removing the glue damaged the exterior paint.

Richmond Police said they took a report for destruction of property on Thursday, Oct. 22.

According to police, the complainant reported that unknown people glued voting posters, 6 feet by 10 feet, to a wall of a building.

Under Virginia law, causing $1,000 or more in property damage can raise a vandalism charge to a felony.

Investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the flyers or has security video to contact police.

Anyone with information about the Henrico incidents can call Henrico police at 804-501-5000. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or at P3tips.com .

Anyone with information about the Richmond report can call the Fourth Precinct at (804) 646-4105.