One candidate in the fight to be Rutherford County’s Property Assessor has called in the police over a campaign sign dispute.

Democrat Rob Mitchell filed a complaint against his Republican opponent Bill Boner with the Murfreesboro Police Department on July 10 about the removal of his campaign banner, which was hanging in front of Premeire 6 Theater.

Mitchell reported to MPD that someone had taken his sign down, “ripped a hole in it and ripped the hooks out of it.” The banner was valued at $200.

“He advised that he contacted Bill Boner in reference to the incident, and Mr. Boner advised that he had the banner taken down and that it was his building and he could take down anything that he wanted to,” according to the police report.

A press release for Cooke & Grace Porperties, which owns Jackson Heights Plaza, said Boner is indeed the manager of the strip mall “and has the authority to remove any temporary signs or banners from the property.

“Any temporary signs or banners need to be approved by Mr. Boner prior to being installed or attached to the grounds or the shopping center,” wrote Ched Cooke of Cooke Properties.

Mitchell then followed up on Friday with police and requested a criminal summons be issued against Boner.

“Copies of the warrant will be available once Mr. Boner has been served and ordered to appear in criminal court,” Mitchell said in a press release.

Before March’s Republican primary, Boner accused his challenger, Lance Jenkins, of stealing his campaign signs.