CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Disputes over Proposition 8 campaign signs in Carlsbad left one man in custody on suspicion of assault and at least one other alleged assailant at large Tuesday, authorities reported.

The latter of the two scuffles over the ballot measure, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, occurred about 10 a.m., when a jogger spotted two men removing "Yes on 8" signs in the area of Aviara Parkway and Cormorant Drive, police spokeswoman Lynn Diamond said.

When the witness confronted the thieves, one of them pulled off the witness' hat and smashed his eyeglasses on the ground. The attacker's large black-and-tan dog then bit the victim in his upper leg, causing deep puncture wounds, according to Diamond.

At that point, the assailant -- a man who appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s, wearing shorts and a polo shirt -- ran off along with his companion, who also was leading a dog.

A similar dispute left a Carlsbad couple in their 70s, bruised and battered and sent a neighbor of theirs to jail Monday night, according to police.

The row began when a 76-year-old man and his 77-year-old wife confronted Lawrence A. Pizzicara, 53, as he was placing "No on 8" signs on their property in the 6900 block of Sandcastle Drive, blocking their pro-Prop 8 placards, Lt. Neil Gallucci said.

During the ensuing argument, Pizzicara allegedly attacked the couple, beating them and inflicting "significant" injuries, the lieutenant said. Medics treated them at the scene, according to Gallucci.

Pizzicara was arrested about 8 p.m. and booked into Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of battery and elder abuse.