A Bellwood mayoral candidate and his campaign manager were arrested and charged Thursday with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after they snatched unflattering campaign fliers from vehicle windows in a Metra parking lot, police said.
David Ireland, 44, and Solomon Smith Sr., 68, were arrested at about 3 p.m. at the Metra station off Frederick Avenue after a Bellwood police officer repeatedly asked them to get out of their car, Bellwood Public Safety Director Wilson Pierce said.
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The officer spotted the men pulling the fliers, which included a copy of an article in a local newspaper, Pierce said.
Ireland sees his arrest as a political move by the city just days before Tuesday’s municipal election.
“Never have I been disorderly in my entire life,” Ireland said. Mayor Frank Pasquale, Ireland’s opponent, said he was informed of the arrest as he left work Thursday evening. Anticipating “they’re going to say this is political,” Pasquale said he told police to treat Ireland like anyone else.
A man came into the police station complaining that Ireland and Smith had removed something from his car, Pierce said. When police arrived, the two got into the car and argued with officers before coming out, he said.
“They gave the police officer a whole lot of mouth,” Pierce said.
Ireland and Smith were released Thursday evening, he said.
Ireland said he is not discouraged by his arrest.
“I feel even more determined,” Ireland said. “I am not embarrassed about it because I didn’t do anything wrong.”