Emerald Anderson-Ford, who recently launched her campaign for at-large alderman in Manchester, N.H., has been accused of keying a car that belongs to the Manchester School District superintendent.
Manchester police said they used surveillance video to identify Anderson-Ford as the person who allegedly vandalized the car at an April 20 event at the Puritan Conference Center. But she said the whole situation was an accident that’s being blown out of proportion.
“It’s unfortunate that a minor accident, which could have easily been resolved with a phone call and exchange of insurance information, has become this waste of public resources, especially considering that our city already has enough serious concerns that require the commitment and attention of our public safety and law enforcement,” Anderson-Ford told the Globe. “This just feels like a gross misuse of public dollars.”
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She declined to elaborate on the nature of what she said was an accident.
Superintendent Jennifer Gillis said Wednesday evening that her car was the one Anderson-Ford is accused of damaging. She expressed appreciation for the Manchester Police Department’s work on this case.
“I do not have a personal relationship with Ms. Ford, although I do know her in professional circles,” Gillis said. “I am baffled as to why this would have happened.”
A spokesperson for Gillis said she was using her personal vehicle to attend an event in her capacity as superintendent at the time of the alleged crime.
Manchester police announced Wednesday that Anderson-Ford had been booked and released on charges related the alleged vandalism. The damage done to the car, which appeared to include key marks on the driver’s side door and rear quarter panel, cost about $2,500 to repair, police said.
The announcement said after police obtained surveillance video and identified Anderson-Ford, they established probable cause to charge her with felony criminal mischief and issued a warrant.
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Anderson-Ford, 38, who turned herself in Wednesday to police, said the accusation against her appears to be politically motivated.
Anderson-Ford serves as chief diversity officer for YWCA New Hampshire. She also founded a group called Communities Reaching for Equity and Diversity (CRED). She appeared at a recent campaign event with other municipal candidates, where she called for fresh progressive leadership on the city’s board of mayor and alderman, as the Manchester Ink Link reported.
There is a lot of political energy surrounding this fall’s municipal election in Manchester. The incumbent mayor, Joyce Craig, isn’t running for re-election. The four candidates competing to replace her include three current members of the 14-member aldermanic board.
In addition to acting as the city government’s policymaking and legislative body, the aldermanic board has the authority to fill vacancies on the city’s board of school committee, which oversees the superintendent.
Anderson-Ford said she, as “an outspoken Black woman in this community who works in equity and inclusion,” feels targeted.
“As somebody who is oftentimes publicly critiquing policies, laws, legislation, this feels like that this is politically motivated and an attempt to discredit me,” she said, “because there doesn’t seem to be any other rational explanation for why someone would go to these extreme and punitive measures regarding a minor accident.”
Anderson-Ford declined to name her accuser.
Manchester police declined to name the victim and did not release additional details Wednesday about the investigation. Court records about the case were not immediately available.
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Anderson-Ford was released on $2,500 personal recognizance bail, and she’s scheduled to appear in court on July 21, police said.
This story was updated Wednesday evening to include information and a statement from Manchester School District Superintendent Jennifer Gillis.
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @reporterporter.