Sportscaster Warner Wolf arrested for defacing ‘racist’ sign in Florida

Credit: Collier County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Collier County Sheriff's Office

"Let's go to the videotape" was longtime sportscaster Warner Wolf's signature phrase during his broadcasts. But surveillance video in November led to Wolf's arrest Thursday on a felony charge of criminal mischief, as he allegedly broke letters off a sign he considered racist at the entrance to a southwest Florida community, the Naples Daily News reported.

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Wolf, 81, turned himself in to police Thursday, the newspaper reported. He faces a felony charge of criminal mischief, according to an arrest report from the Collier County Sheriff's Office. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond, WINK reported.

Wolf allegedly defaced the community sign for Classics Plantation Estates, WINK reported, removing the word "Plantation" from the marquee.

In monthly meetings with the Classics Plantation Estates Homeowners Association, Wolf has spoken about the word "plantation," the Daily News reported.

"He had his opinions about how it was a racist word and he didn’t feel that it should be in the name of community, although plenty of communities throughout Florida use that name," property manager Ken Heff told the newspaper.

According to the arrest report, Wolf drove up to the gate at Classics Plantation on Dec. 13 and handed the security guard the broken letters, the Daily News reported. He told the guard to give the letters to the property manager, the newspaper reported.

Wolf was the play-by-play announcer for "Monday Night Baseball" on ABC in 1976 and played himself in the 1985 movie, “Rocky IV.”

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