Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines may have won his Republican primary handily last night, but the battle between Raines and his primary opponent Tom Reich is continuing. Raines, 53, is the current Eaton County Sheriff and will continue in $82,713-a-year office for another term since he faces no general election challenge from a Democrat. Raines has been Sheriff since 2005, when former Sheriff Rick Jones left to become a Republican state representative.

Following our report last night on Reich filing a criminal complaint against Raines and his wife Laurie, WILX NBC 10 in Lansing reported Tuesday morning that a Reich sign has been taken by Michigan State Police and is being analyzed for finger print evidence.

The brouhaha started Monday night when Reich says he saw Laurie Raines take down one of his signs at the corner of Canal and St. Joseph Highway. But Raines and his wife have both denied any wrong-doing. Talking to WLNS CBS 6 in Lansing quoted Laurie as saying:

“I jumped out and put the sign in the ground, I crossed the road, and after I crossed the road to that side over there, Tom Reich pulled up with a camera and he started screaming and swearing at me that he caught me.”

Candidate Reich told WLNS:

“There was no reason for them to put up more signs, they already had four signs, so with that I would say there’s no truth to that statement whatsoever.”

To add a little color to this already bizarre incident, the Lansing State Journal is reporting the police report indicated Reich had another message for Laurie Raines:

According to investigative reports released Tuesday, Reich held up a video camera, saying: “I got you, Laurie. I’ll see you on Channel 6.”

The Journal also reports that the Raines filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Delta Township offices claiming Reich’s wife Brenda had threatened them. I guess this makes the election a true family affair at this point.

Either way, the case is under investigation by the Michigan State Police Lansing Post, and Eaton County’s no-nonsense Republican prosecutor Jeff Sauter has asked Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox to appoint a special prosecutor to the case.

Stealing campaign signs is a misdemeanor in Michigan punishable by 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.