He said, she said, she said in Hubbard
Police say charges are unlikely against either party.
HUBBARD — A dispute over a campaign sign has left one city businessman and a city councilwoman offering explanations to police.
Police were called to the North Main Street business and residence of Samuel Camouse at 10:52 p.m. Sunday for an argument Camouse had minutes earlier with Councilwoman Lisha Pompili-Baumiller and her sister Regina Pompili-Gatti.
Camouse and Pompili-Baumiller agree the heated argument occurred, but that is where the similarities in the two accounts end.
Camouse told officers the two women insulted him, threatened the future of his business and questioned his sexuality.
Pompili-Baumiller said Camouse unleashed a barrage of insults and foul language on her and her sister.
According to reports, the two women stopped at the business to inquire as to why a Pompili-Baumiller campaign sign was in the trash. Camouse said he told the women he removed the sign because he did not want customers to avoid his T-Mobile store thinking he was supporting Pompili-Baumiller.
According to Camouse’s statements to police, Pompili-Baumiller told him he did not own the property and, as a renter, had no right to tear down and dispose of the sign.
Camouse said Pompili-Gatti then joined the argument saying that her sister was head of business development and would make sure his business failed. He said the women threatened to tell everyone how bad a person he was and do whatever it takes to see his business fail before calling him a “homo”, short for homosexual, and leaving the property.
Pompili-Baumiller called police to file a complaint about the sign shortly after Camouse called to complain about the confrontation. She said she merely stopped to inquire about the removal of the sign while she was out for a walk with her sister.
Pompili-Baumiller said Camouse told her he pays rent and nothing can be put on the property without his permission. He then called her sister a foul name and demanded they leave his property also with an expletive.
Police Chief Martin Kanetsky said it is unlikely charges will be filed against either party. He said police filed a report as a record of the matter.
Pompili-Baumiller’s signs have been placed around the city in anticipation of her bid to be re-elected as the council person representing the 3rd Ward.
jgoodwin@vindy.com