It is a heated political race for a judge’s seat in Dearborn, but as we near the election in November, police are investigating questionable tactics.
The two vying for the seat are the current Dearborn City Council President and a long time attorney.
Police are investigating an incident that happened late Tuesday night. It all unfolded at the Papaya Fruit Market on Warren in Dearborn
According to multiple sources, an officer could see a man dressed in dark clothes, standing near an open trunk of a vehicle.
He was seen removing yard signs that read “Gene Hunt For Dearborn Judge” staked nearby.
In the police report, only obtained by 7 Action News, the man told police he had permission from the owner of a nearby business to remove the signs and gestured to his trunk.
He also said he was supposed to remove Hunt’s opponent Susan Dabaja’s signs as well, but police said her signs had not been removed.
The man told an officer he was Dabaja’s first cousin.
After backup was called, a passenger, eventually told police the man was told by Dabaja’s husband to remove the signs.
The man was read his Miranda Rights and was asked why the only signs taken belonged to Dabaja’s opposition, when both candidates had placed signs at the same intersection.
According to several sources, the man said he could understand why someone would think he was stealing them. Then, he later confessed, Dabaja’s husband told him it was okay to do it.
The man was escorted into a police car, according to several sources, and then released.
Susan Dabaja has released the following statement about the incident:
My campaign and I have never encouraged anyone to take our opponents’ law signs.
In the past my campaign has been a victim of lawn sign theft and theft of any kind is unacceptable.
It is also outrageous that my opponent has two DUIs, as well as a pending grievance with the State Bar of Michigan that is currently under investigation. It’s possible that he might not even be able to practice law in Michigan—yet he still wants to be a judge.
