Accused of stealing campaign signs, Delaware lawmaker's husband turns himself in

MIDDLETOWN, Del. (WPVI) -- The husband of a Delaware state senator has turned himself into police, after campaign workers for a rival party said they caught the man on camera stealing their signs.

54-year-old Dana Armon Long turned himself in to Middletown Police at 7:00 a.m. Thursday on one count of misdemeanor theft. He was released on $250 unsecured bail.

Long is the husband of Democratic state senator Bethany Hall-Long.

He is accused by Republican campaign workers of stealing their candidate's signs. The workers have turned over to police video of them confronting Long about the alleged thefts.

The workers say they placed signs in the area of Delaware 299 near the Route 1 intersection 3 times, and the signs were stolen each time.

So they decided to stake out the area.

Police say at 4:00 a.m. Wednesday the Republican workers confronted a man removing their newly placed signs.

Authorities have identified the man as Long.

An arrest warrant was issued. When Action News went to Long's home, he had little to say.

"Under the advice of counsel, I can't make any comments at this time," he said.

State Senator Hall-Long issued the following statement regarding the incident:

My husband is the man depicted in the video. The video shows him removing a handful of signs this morning. He turned them over to the Democratic Party and asked that they be returned to the Republican Party about six hours after they were taken up. Sadly, this race has become tough and personal. My husband is my high school sweetheart and he loves me very much. I was not aware that he had allowed his frustration over the campaign attacks to get the better of him. Of course I'm disappointed and wish that it had not happened. The Republican Party is threatening legal action, and so I will withhold further comment on the incident. I will continue to focus my energy on the challenges that confront my district, and the State of Delaware.

Her opponent John Marino wouldn't talk on camera but issued a statement in which he denounced the incident saying: "I will not allow my time to be diverted from talking with voters about my opponent's dismal record on taxes, improving public education in Delaware and reducing crime in our state."

In this largely rural community, the voters are also disgusted.

"I saw it on TV and I just think it's a dumb move made by a frustrated man," said Ed Lytle.

"I think it's pretty despicable that you have politicians drop to such drastic measures," said Bryan Williams.