The Port St. Lucie Police Department has provided additional details about two separate investigations involving political campaign signs after receiving public questions about the incidents.
Both incidents occurred this week in the area of SW Airoso Boulevard and involved political campaign signs, but police said they are being investigated as separate cases based on their individual facts, evidence and applicable law.
The first incident occurred Aug. 5 near the intersection of SW Airoso Boulevard and SW Thanksgiving Avenue.
A Port St. Lucie police sergeant observed Steven Giordano and an unidentified adult woman near political campaign signs at a residence and began an investigation after one campaign sign was found on the ground and another had been placed in the yard.
Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the area that police said appears to show Giordano and the woman arriving at the residence, approaching campaign signs displayed in the yard and interacting with them.
Police said the video also appears to show the woman removing a campaign sign supporting Mayor Shannon Martin before a different campaign sign was placed in the yard.
Detectives have collected the video and are reviewing it along with statements, physical evidence and other information gathered during the investigation.
Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the placement and movement of the signs, including whether the movement or replacement of the signs was authorized by the property owner at the time.
The second incident occurred Aug. 7 near SW Airoso Boulevard and SW Thornhill Drive, where officers responded to a disturbance involving political campaign signs.
During the investigation, officers learned that Aaron Martin and Steven Giordano were involved in a verbal confrontation over the placement and movement of campaign signs at a nearby residence.
Officers reviewed video recordings provided by the people involved. Police said the video depicts Martin and Giordano engaged in a verbal confrontation regarding the placement and movement of campaign signs at the residence.
Investigators also interviewed the homeowners and learned that both residents believed they had separately given permission for campaign signs to be placed on the property.
Police said one homeowner gave permission for one campaign's sign, while another resident of the home, who has limited English proficiency, separately gave permission to people associated with the opposing campaign.
According to police, investigators believe the language barrier contributed to a misunderstanding about which campaign signs were authorized to be displayed and whether signs that had already been placed could be moved or replaced.
Investigators are continuing to review the video, witness statements, physical evidence and information obtained from the homeowners.
The preliminary investigation indicates that both Martin and Giordano believed they had permission from residents of the property to place campaign signs, police said. At this time, there is no indication that any campaign signs involved in the incident were stolen or intentionally damaged.
Information about the placement of the campaign signs has also been forwarded to Port St. Lucie Code Compliance for review, as appropriate.
The department acknowledged that Aaron Martin is employed by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and said his employment will not influence the investigation.
If the investigation identifies potential policy violations involving a department employee, police said the matter will be handled according to established department procedures.
Department employees are afforded the rights and protections provided under the Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, in accordance with state law. Any related administrative review will proceed under those requirements and department policy after detectives assigned to the criminal investigations division complete their ongoing investigation.