‘Pence must go’ sign sparks fist fight
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A fight broke out in a downtown neighborhood. Punches were thrown, a man was kicked and police say it all stemmed from a Governor Mike Pence yard sign.
It happened Saturday night around 10:30 on the 500 block of Vermont Street near Park Avenue.
Dennis Wright didn’t witness what happened outside his home, but is in disbelief.
“During political campaigns and stuff, we don’t have anybody come in and bother our signs,” said Wright.
IMPD said a suspect pulled up, grabbed Wright’s “Pence Must Go” sign, and tossed it. They say a neighbor across the street tried to stop the suspect, confronting him and then stood in front of his car to prevent him from leaving while he called police. That’s when, according to police, the suspect pushed him with his moving vehicle.
“That could’ve been very harmful to him to have somebody try to attack you with your car, and attack you later,” said Wright.
After that, police say the suspect got out of his car and punched the neighbor in the mouth. In self-defense, the neighbor allegedly got the suspect on the ground and kicked him in the face. A female passenger got out of the car, and also tried to challenge the neighbor police said.
“I can’t see any reason for hit. It seems like a very childish thing to occur. An adult do something like this? You might see a juvenile, but nothing like this,” said Wright.
The two drove away before police arrived. The victim passed on a license plate number to police. IMPD had this advice,
“Utilize avenues in which to express yourself politically and don’t put yourself in a position where you become the victim or suspect in a crime,” said IMPD Officer Chris Wilburn.
Wright hopes offenders will listen and take that advice.
“Something like this that occurs within our neighborhood is really strange to us,” said Wright.
Neighbors wanted to stress, they consider their community quiet and safe. Wright said he’s lived in his home for 40 years, and the only problem he’s had was somebody stealing a picnic table from his yard, until now.
Police said they have not made any arrests in the case.
An Indianapolis man created the signs a few weeks ago amid fall-out from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.