A Rhode Island lawmaker has been charged with trying to steal the political signs of another candidate.
Brian Coogan was arraigned Tuesday in Providence on misdemeanors including attempted larceny and conspiracy.
Police say a witness saw 46-year-old Coogan and a woman attempt to remove from a fence a sign for City Council candidate Bruce Rogers while on a motorcycle in East Providence.
Police say they couldn't get it off because it was too tightly secured. They say a different stolen sign fell off the bike.
The Providence Journal reports Coogan has denied stealing the signs and says the allegations are political retaliation.
Coogan recently lost his bid for the House seat in District 64 against City Councilman Helder Cunha. He told the newspaper Cunha and Rogers are political allies.
