Crime & Safety

Police Investigation Continues Into Cooke's Contaminated 'DaRos Dishonest Signs'

Branford Police said their application for an arrest warrant in the case will be sought like any other similar alleged offense.

With an investigation ongoing, Branford Police could not state how long it could take for the Connecticut state’s attorney’s office to review their request for an arrest warrant for the suspect involved with the . Branford Police Chief Kevin Halloran said on average most warrant requests are answered in a week.

Yesterday, Branford Police, alerted from members of the Branford Fire Department, determined that the 'DaRos Dishonest' signs had a sticky chemical substance on them. Upon further investigation, police were able to determine that some 'DaRos Dishonest' signs on public property were covered in Bird Gel, which according to their press release, “is nontoxic.” 

The police statement continued: “Precautions for safe handling include: keeping away from children, domestic animals and pets. Health Hazard Data (Acute and Chronic) indicate: no significant health hazard exists at ambient temperatures. Redness and irritation may occur on contaminated skin and eye contact may be slightly irritating, but product does not cause long-term adverse health effects.”

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Soon after learning the signs could potentially be covered in this chemical agent, the police issued a reverse 911 alert through their regarding the potential hazards of touching the signs and then sent Public Works employees around to remove the signs.

Though resident Wayne Cooke, he was responsible for spreading Bird Gel on his signs, the police stated that Cooke has not been named a suspect in this case as the investigation is ongoing.

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Last night, Cooke issued a statement to the media claiming he wanted “to prevent people from stealing my signs” and that’s why he tainted them with the sticky substance, Bird Gel.

Cooke stated he contacted Georgia State Representative Brett Harrell who had encountered people stealing his political campaign signs. The state representative informed Cooke that he used Bird Gel on his signs to deter theft. Cooke wrote of Harrell: “He explained the process along with a few anecdotes about its effectiveness. Thinking it was an accepted practice, and worth a try, I ordered the bird gel off of Amazon.”

When his order arrived – Bird Gel runs about $10-$15 for one 10-ounce tube – Cooke stated that he noticed warning labels, which concerned him. After contacting the Bird Gel manufacturer and Yale-New Haven hospital poison control, Cooke stated he was assured that the substance was safe. Cooke did not note if he asked those sources if was safe to place on street-level signs with the intent to deter people from touching the signs.

According to a variety of Bird Gel manufacturers online, the substance, which is expelled like caulk, is generally used on roofs and store signs to deter birds from resting and roosting – the substance is not typically used for low-lying signs.

Captain Geoffrey Morgan of the Branford Police Department said the police pursued the matter after determining that the Bird Gel could “pose a risk to children, household pets, and animals.”

Cooke maintains in his press release that he "meant no harm" by using Bird Gel.

The warrant for a suspect’s arrest is for reckless endangerment stated Morgan. Police arrived at seeking such a warrant based on the fact that the act could be considered “reckless enough to cause harm to a human.”

However, Morgan notes, “This isn’t the crime of the century.”

“This investigation will be handled in the same manner as any other police investigation," he added.

Though this is the first instance of a potential criminal act, Cooke’s ‘DaRos Dishonet’ signs have been in the police eye for more than a week when Cooke approached the department seeking police action regarding what he determined to be theft of his signs.

Police stated they did have proof of one person taking Cooke’s signs from public property but determined there was no cause for arrest as the signs are technically “abandoned” when placed on public property, police state. 

“We will actively investigate thefts from personal property,” stated Morgan, “but when things are on state- or town-owned property the person who places it there has no standing for future complaint of theft.” He elaborated, “What we’re talking about here” he stated, “are signs. Technically, it’s litter.”

Earlier this week a resident also filed a police report stating that she witnessed Cooke taking Daros-Campell campaign signs infront of . This taking of signs would also not be grounds for police action as the signs were on state property.

According to Kevin Nursick, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, any signs placed on state property can be removed by the DOT at anytime. The state owns anywhere form six inches to 30 feet of property beyond the road curb, stated Nursick and they will remove signs if they see them. This same rule applies to the town roads.


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