State senator accused of assault while removing sign

A Democratic Party worker claims an Arizona state senator assaulted her as he tried to remove a sign near a polling place on Election Day.

Ruth Levin accused Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, of driving up to an apartment complex where she was working and cutting down a sign that criticized his efforts to improve air quality at Tempe's Corona del Sol High School.

"A man drove up to the curb, came rushing out of the car and with a knife cut the plastic that was holding the sign on two metal posts," Levin said.

She said she tried to stop Huppenthal.

"I grabbed the corner of the sign and was hanging on to it for dear life... I was just so angry and upset," she said.

Chandler police quoted Levin as saying that Huppenthal also grabbed some anti-Huppenthal fliers she was handing out.

CBS-5 said police are looking into the incident as a possible act of disorderly conduct or criminal damage.

Huppenthal said he had permission to remove the sign.