UPLAND >> A pro-medical marijuana group is alleging Upland police Chief Brian Johnson stole political campaign signs supporting a ballot measure that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

However, a city official refutes that claim.

Roger Jon Diamond, the attorney representing Regulate Upland, which placed “Yes on Measure U” signs throughout the city, said Monday he filed a complaint with the police department’s internal affairs. The complaint was transferred to Interim City Manager Martin Thouvenell.

“What he’s doing is illegal and violating the civil rights of the pro-measure group,” Diamond said.

During Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Ray Musser said he counted at least a dozen signs which were removed from Foothill Boulevard because they were placed on city property.

“Every single one was in the parkway — they were all illegal. If we are good citizens we do things correctly, so that we don’t ask our chief to do things that he normally doesn’t want to do,” Musser said. “If they are in the parkway they are in city property.”

Prior to the start of Monday’s council meeting, Johnson said he was not at liberty to discuss the topic because it’s a personnel matter.

Thouvenell said he received the complaint late Monday. During the council meeting, Thouvenell said the incident would be investigated by an outside agency.

Saturday afternoon, volunteers for “Yes on Measure U” noticed recently placed signs were gone.

The group shot a short video Saturday allegedly showing Johnson driving a female companion in a dark four-door sedan with a California exempt license plate. The unidentified woman is seen taking down a sign and then getting into the passenger seat. In photos taken by unidentified volunteers, the same female can be seen removing signs and placing them on a stack with others in the back seat.

“This is a very bizarre thing that he’s done. He’s not touching them all, only ‘Yes on U’,” Diamond said Monday afternoon.

Randy Welty, a board member of the California Cannabis Coalition, told the council Monday night that the signs were removed from the intersection of Central Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Dewey Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, and other areas along a major thoroughfare. He claimed no other candidates had their signs removed or stolen. The coalition backed the Upland measure and helped gather the necessary signatures to place it on the November ballot.

“This is interference of the First Amendment activity,” he said.

Welty asked that the police department return the signs immediately.

“Your signs are at public works and you are more than welcome to retrieve those,” Thouvenell told Welty.

“I think they should be brought back to me,” Welty replied.

Thouvenell said they were not stolen and are stored in a “neat and orderly fashion” as are other candidates’ signs.

But the group alleges the non-Measure U signs were removed Monday, only after its complaint was filed with the police department.

Allegations were also made Tuesday that the chief tried to thwart documentation of the incident. Jake Welty, 28, of Covina said he received a text message Saturday shortly after 4 p.m. from volunteers that someone was taking down the campaign signs near Central Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

When Jake Welty, who declined to state his affiliation to Regulate Upland, the California Cannabis Coalition or Randy Welty, said he was nearby and began following the vehicle. He took video of the signs coming down near the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, Jake Welty said.

He said he followed them for five minutes before a traffic officer pulled him over.

“(Officer) Clark told me the chief of police instructed her to pull him over,” he said. “She stated that she does not cite for (missing) front license plate and tinted windows.”

Jake Welty said he received a citation for not having a front license plate.

Thouvenell said he couldn’t comment on the claims because it is a personnel matter, but it will be investigated.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been edited to correct when the signs were taken down.