LOCAL NEWS

Utah family feels like they’re being targeted over acceptance flags

Aug 22, 2022, 5:15 PM

SANDY, Utah — A Sandy family said they’re fed up with being targeted in the middle of the night by vandals poisoning their landscape.

“They started on the street side, very low, and we just couldn’t quite figure out what was happening,” said Robert Smith.

For nearly five months, Robert Smith has been trying to figure out why his landscape is dying.

“So we put cameras up to monitor while we were away or asleep, and low and behold, we found some suspicious activity.”

On Monday, Smith’s security cameras captured a man in a golf cart, driving around his house at 2 a.m.

“We saw this fellow come very close and very slow, right next to the curb, and you see some motion, some throwing motion.”

Then again on Wednesday at 1:30 a.m.

“I don’t know if it’s borax or what it is, but there is something that is killing the trees.”

Smith believes his family is being targeted because of the messages they choose to display.

“Some people will bring their animals by to defecate in our yard, and they’ve told us that they didn’t like our BLM flag or our ‘We’ll Trade Racists for Refugees’ flag.”

Sandy police said the Smiths have every right to display their beliefs, as long as the signs are not vulgar or obscene.

“That’s a form of free speech,” said Sgt. Greg Moffitt. “It’s on that homeowner, his or her property, that’s totally within their right.”

Moffitt said if someone is caught vandalizing a property, they could face charges.

“If it’s ten cents worth of damage or all the way up to $500 worth of damage, it will be a Class B misdemeanor,” Moffitt said.

At the Smith home, dead bushes and trees are stacking up.

“I already took one tree out because it completely died,” Smith said. “Here’s another that completely died.”

Smith said he’s fed up.

“This type of behavior shouldn’t be acceptable in a community that’s tight knit; it shouldn’t be acceptable in a community that is about respecting thy neighbor.”

Smith said he didn’t file a police report right away because he didn’t want to level accusations against a neighbor without evidence, but now that he has it, he’s ready to go to police.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Local News

Cottonwood High lines up for a free kick following a fair catch against Jordan High. (KSL Sports)...
Andrew Adams

Coach, kicker & official reflect on Cottonwood High’s rare, game-winning play

Cottonwood defeated Jordan High after the Colts attempted and converted a free kick for three points with 12 seconds left following a fair catch on a punt.
6 months ago
...
Karah Brackin

Utah Veterans head to Washington D.C. for ‘trip of a lifetime’

75 veterans left Salt Lake City for Washington D.C. Tuesday morning.
6 months ago
Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, introduces himself as a member of a n...
Ashley Imlay, KSL.com & Aimee Cobabe, KSL NewsRadio

Supreme Court declines to hear Utah gun rights activist’s appeal to overturn bump stock ban

A prominent Utah gun rights activist has lost his bid to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the federal bump stock ban.
6 months ago
Yvette Rodier, shooting survivor...
Amy Donaldson, KSL Podcasts

LETTER PODCAST: Victim says bullet wounds were easiest part of recovery

When Yvette Rodier woke up in a hospital, she knew, even before anyone told her, that her friend, Zachary Snarr, was dead.
6 months ago
Housing construction....
Ladd Egan

Unaffordable Utah: Mortgage rates climb again as buyers look for price reductions

Utah's housing market is whiplashing as last year's buying frenzy seems to have slowed down to signs of a recession.
6 months ago
FILE...
Matt Gephardt & Sloan Schrage

Get Gephardt: How cybercriminals use social engineering to get us to hand over our sensitive info

You can have the strongest, most secure password in the history of cybersecurity, but the bad guys know there is one weakness they can use to hack into your system - you!
6 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Hand turning a thermostat knob to increase savings by decreasing energy consumption. Composite imag...
Lighting Design

5 Lighting Tips to Save Energy and Money in Your Home

Advances in lighting technology make it easier to use smart features to cut costs. Read for tips to save energy by using different lighting strategies in your home.
Portrait of smiling practitioner with multi-ethnic senior people...
Summit Vista

How retirement communities help with healthy aging

There are many benefits that retirement communities contribute to healthy aging. Learn more about how it can enhance your life, or the life of your loved ones.
Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to choose what MBA program is right for you: Ask these questions before you apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Cloud storage technology with 3d rendering drawer with files in cloud...
PC Laptops

How backing up your computer can help you relieve stress

Don't wait for something bad to happen before backing up your computer. Learn how to protect your data before disaster strikes.
young woman with stickers on laptop computer...
Les Olson

7 ways print marketing materials can boost your business

Custom print marketing materials are a great way to leave an impression on clients or customers. Read for a few ideas to spread the word about your product or company.
young woman throwing clothes to organize a walk in closet...
Lighting Design

How to organize your walk-in closet | 7 easy tips to streamline your storage today

Read our tips to learn how to organize your walk-in closet for more storage space. These seven easy tips can help you get the most out of your space.
Utah family feels like they’re being targeted over acceptance flags