Crime & Public Safety
Campaign sign for suspended Palm Beach County clerk found defaced in western Boca Raton
A campaign sign for suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of Circuit Courts and Comptroller Michael A. Caruso was observed damaged in western Boca Raton along Palmetto Park Road, just west of the intersection with U.S. 441. The sign’s photographic portion was removed from the neck up and the words “chld Abuse!!” were written twice across it, along with a drawn sad face.
According to a local news report, the damaged sign was seen recently; a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it had not received any reports about campaign signs being damaged as of Sept. 29, 2026. The Caruso campaign was contacted about the damaged sign and had not publicly responded at the time of the report.
The report noted that, under Florida law, tampering with campaign signs can lead to charges such as theft, trespassing, or vandalism. The sign damage occurred after Caruso’s Aug. 18, 2026, arrest in the Orlando area on allegations that include kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a chld, and chld abuse; those allegations were part of the criminal case in Orange County.
Court and campaign status reported in the same coverage indicate Caruso pleaded not guilty and was released after posting a $160,000 bond. Following the arrest, the governor suspended Caruso from office; his campaign records show refund transactions in late August, and his name remained on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot. No arrests or charges relating to the damaged sign have been documented by the sheriff’s office.
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