An incident involving a doll found hanging from a street sign above a councilwoman's campaign sign in Statesville has been deemed a Halloween prank, not a hate crime, by the Statesville Police Department. The doll, discovered last Monday, was initially thought to target Councilwoman Doris Allison, as reported by WBTV. Surveillance footage and witnesses aided police in tracking down the individual responsible.
Authorities eventually located and questioned a 23-year-old man who admitted to tying the doll near the intersection of Wilson Lee Boulevard and Fayetteville Avenue. According to a statement obtained by QC News, the man stated that the act was merely a Halloween decoration and not associated with the political sign belonging to Allison. Despite a nearby property owner's concerns that the act represented a hate crime, no charges will be filed following comprehensive investigation.
Councilwoman Allison had the opportunity to meet with the young man on September 23, where he offered his apology. "The man apologized for his actions," Allison told Iredell Free News. After reviewing the case, police concluded that there was no malicious intent and decided to not file any charges.
Community members expressed concern upon the discovery of the doll, which led to an investigation that involved the FBI. However, authorities have since decided there is no longer a need for additional information from the public. The identity of the young man involved will not be shared publicly, as he will not face any legal repercussions for his actions.
