The Tiverton Police Department has announced an arrest on Monday following an investigation into the theft of political campaign signs near Longplex Family & Sports Center, located at 300 Industrial Way.
The investigation began on October 20th, when Tiverton Town Council President John Edwards reported that signs supporting his re-election campaign, along with signs belonging to other candidates, had been stolen. Edwards reported discovering signs missing on October 17th and replacing his signs, only to find that a replacement sign was taken several days later.
Working cooperatively with Longplex, Tiverton Police Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and business records. Investigators determined that on October 14th and October 19th, Philip Myerson of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, allegedly visited the facility’s fitness center and, upon leaving, stopped his vehicle near the lawn, removed multiple campaign signs, and placed them inside his vehicle before departing.
Surveillance footage, fitness center membership records, law enforcement records, and Flock Safety license plate reader data assisted detectives in identifying Myerson and the vehicle involved.
On Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for Myerson. That evening, Tiverton Police Detectives, assisted by the Portsmouth Police Department, located him at a Portsmouth residence and took him into custody. Myerson cooperated with investigators and acknowledged taking campaign signs in Tiverton and Portsmouth.
Myerson was arraigned before a bail commissioner that evening and released on personal recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in Second District Court on November 19th, 2026, for re-arraignment.
On Tuesday, Myerson surrendered twenty-two campaign signs to Tiverton Police. The recovered signs represented candidates and political organizations in Tiverton, Portsmouth, and statewide races, including:
Tiverton Town Council: John Edwards (4), Craig Committo (1), Dave Perry (1), and Robert Jobin (1).
Tiverton School Committee: Valerie Barbato (1).
Portsmouth Town Council: David Fiorillo (2), Juan Carlos Payero (1), and Conley Wake Zani (1).
Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee: Four signs.
Statewide candidates: James Diossa (2), Gregg Amore (2), and Sabrina Matos (2).
The Tiverton Police Department thanked the Portsmouth Police Department, Longplex Family & Sports Center, and Town Council President John Edwards for their assistance with this investigation.
All charges are allegations. Myerson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law
