LAPORTE COUNTY

6-foot Obama campaign sign suffers vandalism

Julius Townsel is now taking his 6-foot Barack Obama campaign sign in at night after three separate acts of vandalism, including the spray painting of a racial slur.

"I would think in this day and time we'd be beyond that," said Townsel, who lives between La Porte and Michigan City on Johnson Road.

A month ago, vandals broke the 6-foot plastic and styrofoam "Indiana for Barack" sign off its metal posts in the front yard.

Over a week ago, spray painted a racial slur on the sign. Early Friday, Townsel said he and his 14-year-old son were awakened by noise and went outside.

They yelled at several young people who, again, had broken the large sign off its posts.

A smaller Obama campaign sign on his property also was stolen.

HUDSON LAKE

Police suspect Molotov cocktail in arson case

A Molotov cocktail may have been tossed against a house setting it ablaze in Hudson Lake, according to police reports.

LaPorte County Police reported that 39-year-old Brian Borders and his 8-year-old son said they both woke up about 1:45 a.m. Sunday to a "loud bang." Borders said the noise sounded like "something containing an accelerant" was tossed against the house.

He called 911 and used a garden hose to put out the flames, police.

According to investigators, the siding on the west side of the single story home at 8354 E. Tulip Lane was melted.

Parts of the structure and deck also were scorched.

LAPORTE

Halloween decorations stolen from residence

Several hundred dollars in Halloween decorations were taken from a LaPorte home.

Saturday night, police responded to a report by William Stineback, who said a full-sized Halloween skeleton cowboy was taken from his 1710 Monroe St. home.

According to police, Stineback said he heard voices of what sounded to like teenage boys.

By the time he made it outside, nobody was there but his cowboy skeleton with a fake gun in each hand was gone, police said.

Also missing were two rubber skeletons and a third skeleton.

Stineback told police, the Halloween decorations together were valued at $750.