Ballots Damaged After Mailbox Was Lit On Fire In Arizona, Suspect Arrested

Over a dozen ballots were damaged in Phoenix, Arizona, after a man lit a USPS collection box on fire.

Phoenix police arrested Dieter Bradford Klofkorn, 35, after Klofkorn admitted to starting a fire at a USPS collection box.

Klofkorn was arrested for an unrelated warrant, but as he was in custody, he admitted to the arson at the collection box.

The suspected arson shared that he “wanted to be arrested.”

Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade reported that the fire damaged 20 mail-in ballots.

BREAKING: The Phoenix Fire Department and police officials in Phoenix, Arizona have opened an investigation into a fire inside of a mailbox after over a dozen ballots were damaged. pic.twitter.com/1pQLZz83IU

— Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) October 24, 2024

🚨BREAKING: Ballots Damaged After Mailbox Set on Fire in Swing State

Last night, around 20 ballots were damaged after an unidentified individual set a mailbox on fire in Phoenix, the largest city in battleground state Arizona.

The fire remains under investigation by local… pic.twitter.com/q2VVmmGapd

— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) October 24, 2024

Here’s what AZ Family reported:

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.

Green envelopes could be seen in the mail that investigators removed.

BALLOTS DAMAGED IN FIRE: Arson investigators are looking into a USPS mailbox fire that damaged approximately 20 ballots in Phoenix overnight. https://t.co/nZupLOvVMM

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) October 24, 2024

Per the Guardian:

A postal service collection box was set on fire early on Thursday in Phoenix, damaging a small number of mail-in ballots dropped off at the box.

Local media reported the incident on Thursday, citing police and fire department officials who said the United States Postal Service mailbox was on fire at about 1.30am local time.

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Phoenix police said they arrested 35-year-old Dieter Klofkorn, who had an unrelated arrest warrant. Police said he was interviewed about the arson while in custody and admitted to the crime, a felony.

“Klofkorn stated that he committed the arson because he wanted to be arrested and that his actions were not politically motivated and not related to anything involving the upcoming election,” police said in a press release