Statesville Police Investigating Suspicious Activity Involving Doll Hung Near Election Sign
September 23, 2025
UPDATE: Statesville Police Identify Individual Responsible for Doll Hung Near Election Sign
The Statesville Police Department used area cameras to identify several vehicles traveling on Wilson Lee Boulevard at Fayetteville Avenue on the morning of Monday, September 15, 2025. From this information, investigators located a witness who provided a detailed description of the individual seen tying the doll to the signpost.
Investigators then located the subject at his residence in the vicinity of the signpost. The subject, identified as a 23-year-old black male, admitted to placing the doll on the post as a Halloween prank unrelated to the campaign sign located below the doll.
On the morning of September 23, 2025, Councilwoman Doris Allison met with the subject, who apologized for his actions. After reviewing the facts of the case, the Statesville Police Department has determined that no charges will be filed, and the young man’s identity will not be released since he was not charged.
Chief David Onley
September 17, 2025
On Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5:38 p.m., the Statesville Police Department (SPD) responded to a report of suspicious activity at the intersection of Wilson Lee Boulevard and Fayetteville Avenue.
Responding officers contacted the owner of the property adjacent to the intersection. The property owner reported discovering a doll hanging from a street sign with a rope around its neck. The doll was positioned above an election sign for Doris Allison, the Ward 3 City Council representative.
The property owner told officers they believed the doll was intentionally placed at this location to target Allison and represented a hate crime. The doll and materials used to suspend it were seized as evidence for processing.
The SPD Criminal Investigations Division, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has launched an active investigation into this incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3518. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the SPD website – police.statesvillenc.net – using the See Something Say Something contact form.
