Reward for sign vandal doubled

The Costa Mesa Taxpayers Assn. has doubled its reward for the identity of the suspect videotaped vandalizing a “Yes on Measure V” and “3Ms” campaign sign.

The fiscally conservative, grass-roots group is now offering $1,000, up from $500 earlier this week. The organization has endorsed the city charter measure and the 3Ms — Councilmen Gary Monahan, Steve Mensinger and Planning Commission Chairman Colin McCarthy — in their City Council bids.

The man in the video, which was shot by an unnamed person, appears to be white, tall, bald and has a long goatee. Costa Mesa police said the incident happened at Fair and Columbia drives Saturday night.

Police have said they met a private investigator, who was hired by a campaigning councilman, at the scene that night, but it is unclear if the investigator is the one who shot the video.

City CEO Tom Hatch has said the city is conducting an official investigation.

He also said in a prepared statement that the city is “conducting a separate and confidential personnel/administrative investigation,” but the city has declined giving further context to that statement.

—Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint