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Philly solicitor linked to Trump vandalism keeps job, not charged

The assistant city solicitor captured on camera with a second man, who is seen vandalizing a Chestnut Hill grocery store, will not be charged and will keep his job, officials said Saturday.

File photo: An assistant city solicitor investigated in connection with anti-Trump graffiti.
File photo: An assistant city solicitor investigated in connection with anti-Trump graffiti.Read morePhiladelphia police

The assistant city solicitor captured on camera with a second man, who is seen vandalizing a Chestnut Hill grocery store, will not be charged and will keep his job, officials said Saturday.

Duncan Lloyd, 32, was identified in surveillance footage that captured Lloyd and a second man walking along Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill on Nov. 25. In the footage, Lloyd is seen wearing a blue blazer and holding a glass of wine while appearing to film or take photos of a second man, who spray-paints "F- Trump" on the wall of a newly opened Fresh Market.

Craig Straw, first deputy city solicitor of the Philadelphia Law Department, said he learned Saturday that Lloyd would not be charged. He said Lloyd, who has been on a two-week leave without pay since the incident, will keep his job and complete 40 hours of community service.

"Earlier today, the District Attorney's Office informed us that the Police Department did not submit a warrant to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office requesting Duncan Lloyd be charged with any crime. Therefore, no criminal charges have been brought against Mr. Lloyd for the incident," Straw said in a statement.

"Even though Mr. Lloyd's actions did not amount to criminal conduct, the Law Department feels that his actions were inappropriate and warrant additional disciplinary action beyond the suspension without pay.

"We have directed Mr. Lloyd to volunteer with the City's Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), working with its Graffiti Abatement Team, for no less than 40 hours in total upon his return to work. Mr. Lloyd will continue to cooperate with law enforcement's investigation in the matter and accepts the discipline."

The city's inspector general, Amy Kurland, defended the decision in a statement.

"I have reviewed the matter and have found that the punitive measures of unpaid leave and community service are appropriate, and are consistent with the discipline imposed on city workers who have engaged in comparable examples of conduct. I am comfortable with how this matter has been concluded."

Police have not said whether the second man was arrested and charged in the incident.

The incident sparked national attention and outrage from the local Republican Party, which called for Lloyd's firing.

jterruso@philly.com

215-854-5506

@juliaterruso