Law enforcement employees deface Black Lives Matter sign, CA cops say

Two civilian employees of Ventura County law enforcement agencies are accused of defacing a Black Lives Matter banner in separate incidents in Thousand Oaks, California, sheriff’s officials say.

Darrin Stone, 60, a sheriff’s department service technician, slashed the banner with a knife June 13 and tried to cut it down early Friday, a sheriff’s release says.

Stone, who was off-duty at the time of both incidents, has been placed on leave pending an investigation, the release says. He faces vandalism charges.

“I’m deeply disappointed that one of our employees involved himself in this type of illegal activity, especially when this is an infringement on someone’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech,” said Sheriff Bill Ayub, according to the release. “We hold our employees to the highest standards, and there will be consequences for this.”

Craig Anderson, 59, an investigative assistant with the county district attorney’s office, also faces vandalism charges in connection with a May 31 incident involving the banner, the release says.

Anderson cut down the banner and tried to remove it before spotting a security camera, sheriff’s officials say. He then left the scene.

A third vandalism incident involved a man with no law enforcement connections, authorities say.

Jeffrey Moore, 58, spray-painted graffiti on the banner June 11, the release says. He was cited for vandalism after a security camera captured a sign on his work truck.

All three incidents were captured on a security camera placed nearby by the owner after earlier vandalism, the sheriff’s office says.

When the owner posted a photo from video of one of the incidents to social media, sheriff’s officials recognized Stone and began an investigation, according to the release.

This story was originally published June 21, 2020 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Law enforcement employees deface Black Lives Matter sign, CA cops say."