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Approximately 20 Ballots Damaged After U.S. Postal Service Mailbox Set On Fire, Suspect Arrested

A U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, was set ablaze, reportedly damaging over a dozen mail-in ballots.

“Phoenix Fire Department and police officials in Phoenix Arizona are currently investigating after a United States Postal Service mailbox was reportedly set on fire overnight, damaging a number of mailed-in ballots. Crews quickly extinguished the blaze, but investigators were later seen going through pieces of burned mail,” Rawsalerts wrote.

“Approximately 20 electoral ballots were damaged, along with other miscellaneous mail. The Postal Inspector has since taken possession of the damaged items. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but the Phoenix Fire Department’s Arson Investigation Taskforce, along with postal inspectors and police, is conducting a criminal investigation,” the post added.

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According to reports, surveillance video helped Phoenix police quickly track down a suspect and make an arrest.

“Thanks to swift action by @PhoenixPolice, @PHXFire and federal partners, we have arrested the suspect involved in this incident,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said.

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AZFamily reports:

A suspect has reportedly been taken into custody in connection with a fire in a United States Postal Service Collection Box in Phoenix overnight, which damaged over a dozen ballots inside.

Phoenix police said 35-year-old Dieter Bradford Klofkorn was arrested for an outstanding and unrelated warrant. While in custody, authorities say he admitted to the arson because he “wanted to be arrested” and claimed his actions “were not politically motivated” and unrelated to the upcoming election.

According to Phoenix authorities, Klofkorn started a fire inside a drive-up collection mailbox near 7th Avenue and Indian School Road around 1:20 a.m.

Fire crews arrived at the scene, forced the mailbox open and put out the flames. Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade says 20 electoral ballots were damaged in the fire, along with additional mail.

At the scene, Arizona‘s Family reporters could see a charred, damaged blue USPS Collection Box. Investigators at the scene emptied the box’s contents.

Per NBC News:

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said in a statement that voters can check the status of their ballot at https://BeBallotReady.Vote.

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“Successful delivery is usually reflected on that website within 72 hours. Voters should be aware that tomorrow, October 25, is the last day to request a replacement ballot,” Richer’s statement read. “If a voter believes they were impacted by this incident they can learn more about how to make that request at https://Request.Maricopa.Vote.”

Fontes, a Democrat, commended the local fire and police departments, as well as the Arizona USPS for their response. He noted that counties across the state have equipped ballot drop boxes with security controls designed to prevent physical attacks.

“Any attack that strikes at our democratic process carries criminal consequences,” Fontes said in a statement. “Ballot abuse is a felony in Arizona, and mailbox vandalism is a federal crime.

Federal authorities have warned in the lead-up to Election Day that ballots could be intentionally damaged in transit.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.


 

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