A 57-year-old woman was arrested early Saturday after she allegedly vandalized a resident’s Donald Trump campaign sign and then nearly ran over the sign’s owner as she drove off, according to authorities.

Andover police said officers responded to the home on Jenkins Road after the homeowner reported his campaign sign had been spray painted. He told police that when he confronted the the suspect, she drove off in “an erratic manner” and he was forced to run out of the way of the car. He was not injured, according to police.

Officers later identified and arrested Susan Bryant, of North Reading, and charged her with four counts of defacing property and one count of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, police said.


Authorities said Bryant is suspected of previously vandalizing signs at the property.

“During this Presidential election season, opinions as to who the next President should be may differ. The ability to express those opinions openly and freely is the cornerstone of democracy in our country,” Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe said in a statement. “Our concern is when people take it upon themselves to wrongly extend their ability of expression into vandalism and assault. The victim in this case was only protecting his freedom of speech and expression. We ask for the communities help in allowing all to express their opinions in safe, legal ways.”

Bryant is expected to be arraigned Monday in Lawrence District Court.