Video catches incumbent red-handed
4:17 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2008
"It's just one of those things you look at and you just can't believe it."
Calvin Hayden calls it stranger than fiction. He's running for Johnson County Commissioner in the 6th District and his campaign signs safely fill the front yard at this home.
But, like many politicians, he's had trouble with his signs being stolen.
"We just thought it was normal, routine vandalism," Hayden said.
That is until Friday night. Hayden and his wife were checking some of their signs when they say they spotted their opponent.
"We saw him drive down to our signs, it was a long ways away. I had to watch him through binoculars, but he tore the signs off and threw them on the ground. I was just in shock," Hayden said.
Hayden called police. They told him if it was on videotape, it would be a much stronger case. So Saturday morning, Hayden's wife and some friends decided to try to catch their opponent in the act. And, amazingly, they found him.
"Just by chance, just by dumb luck."
The home video camera was rolling as the incumbent commissioner strolled up to a patch of campaign signs.
"Yes, I'm videoing it right now. He's taking it. He already picked up three. He 's got another one in his hand. Toplikar is taking the signs."
They called police, and soon Olathe police officers had pulled over John Toplikar and were questioning him. Hayden's group also caught that on tape.
Police say Toplikar had several campaign signs in his van, and he was cited for theft.
"It's... I just can't believe it. I mean it's beyond belief," Hayden said.
No one answered the door at John Toplikar's Olathe home today and no one answered repeated phone calls.
Calvin Hayden still can't believe all of this really happened.
"This comes down to character and I think people deserve better."
Toplikar was cited for misdemeanor theft.
Related stories: Woman has campaign signs vandalized
Stolen campaign signs a bonus for campaigns
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