GUYTON -- A little deductive reasoning by a Guyton City Council candidate led to the arrest of  a suspect in a case of stolen campaign signs.

On Nov. 21, Post 2 candidate Andy Harville was notified by a Guyton business that its surveillance system captured a man taking some of his campaign signs from yards and other businesses and placing them in the bed of his white pickup. 

Noting that the truck appeared to be a delivery vehicle, Harville kept an eye out for it the following evening and noticed it parked at a convenience store. He didn't initially accuse the truck's driver of stealing his signs but then noticed some in the back of the truck.

Harville immediately called the Effingham County's Sheriff's Office, which responded to the scene. Terry Eugene Jordan, 42, a Courthouse Road resident, quickly copped to taking the signs, telling deputies that he intended to put them in his front yard, which is outside Guyton city limits.

Jordan's 1995 Chevrolet contained five signs -- five belonging to Harville and one belonging to Post 1 candidate Marshall Reiser. Harville is set to face Hursula Pelote in a Dec. 3 runoff. Reiser is pitted against Tamela Mydell.

Jordan, who was delivering newspapers, was arrested and taken to the Effingham County Jail. He has been charged with theft by taking ($500 or less). Each sign cost about $6.