TIVERTON — Alan Zielke’s political messages on a sign board in front of his car-and-boat-upholstery shop on Main Road, across from Nanaquaket Pond, are always there, ever-changing and sometimes make passersby do a double-take, but the messages over the weekend may have gone a little too far, some residents complained.

“People think I’m a mad bomber now?” Zielke asked as he washed a black pickup truck in front of Alan's Auto Upholstery & Window Tinting on Tuesday afternoon, moving around the truck and away from a reporter asking questions.

One of Zielke’s messages over the weekend read: “See! Liberal Democrats stop your evil hate! You never know who or what you are dealing with. Enough. Be careful what you do and say. Carma. What goes around comes back around.”

The other side of the message board read: “Next time may not be so incompetent,” a message that many believed referred to the person who mailed numerous bombs to high-ranking Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and some people very critical of President Donald Trump, such as actor Robert De Niro. No one was injured by the mail bombs and the man believed responsible was arrested.

The new messages on Zielke’s board on Tuesday, in his signature black capital letters, included an apology. “Oops. Sorry I didn’t mean that sign the way it was taken. You ‘know’ I’m not like that. I’m sorry.”

On the other side was this: “What happened to our contry [sic]? Remember when! Don’t you wish!”

People did not complain to Town Hall, but some did complain to the newspaper, on social media and to the police.

“My office hasn’t had any inquiries or complaints,” about the messages, Town Administrator Jan Reitsma said. “I have heard it was arguably a pretty shocking thing to have put up.”

A complaint was lodged with the police, Police Chief Patrick Jones said, and his department did intervene.

“We received a citizen complaint, especially given everything going on in the nation, many citizens were very offended by that,” Jones said of the message apparently alluding to the mail bombs.

People also realized it was a sign, he said, and Zielke has the right to free speech.

“He was very cooperative, very apologetic. He has no violent tendencies. He has no weapons and no access to weapons,” Jones said of Zielke. “He’s not a racist or a member of any group.”

Jones added that Zielke gave police “assurances” that he has no intent to harm anyone.

Zielke said people took it the wrong way, but when asked to explain the messages, he merely read from a paper on which he had the messages written in pencil.

“It’s just totally taken out of context,” Zielke said. “Liberals don’t have a sense of humor. It’s ridiculous.”

The message board does not have a town permit, according to a file in the building inspector’s office.

A notice of violation was issued for the message board on Jan. 9, 2017, but two days later it was rescinded without explanation. Former Building Official Neil Hall signed a brief letter on Jan. 11, 2017, that stated: “Please disregard Notice of Violation dated Jan. 9.” Hall is no longer with the town.

The town’s zoning officer, Matthew Allen, who has been on the job only since June, said the town zoning office has no authority to regulate the content of signs but it does have the authority to investigate whether a sign meets current regulations or if it is old enough to be considered grandfathered in, meaning it was there before the town adopted a sign ordinance.

Allen did say that the message on the board over the weekend was over the line.

“To say ‘in bad taste’ is an understatement,” Allen said of the message apparently referencing the mail bombs. “It seemed to be advocating political violence, but there’s the whole free-speech thing.”

Zielke would not answer when asked how long he has been putting messages on the sign in front of his business, and whether the board is considered grandfathered in. If it isn’t, a message board of that type can be permitted for just two weeks and must be at least five feet away from the road, according to the town’s sign ordinance.

mpobzeznik@Newportri.com