Arizona election ballots damaged after USPS mailbox lit on fire, suspect arrested

Around 20 mail-in ballots person been damaged successful Phoenix aft an arson fishy acceptable occurrence to a U.S. Postal Service mailbox, officials say. 

Dieter Klofkorn, 35, has been arrested connected 1 felony number of Arson to Property pursuing the incidental that unfolded aboriginal Thursday greeting successful Arizona’s capital. 

"Klofkorn stated that helium committed the arson due to the fact that helium wanted to beryllium arrested and that his actions were not politically motivated and not related to thing involving the upcoming election," the Phoenix Police Department said successful a statement. 

Images taken from the country showed a charred mailbox extracurricular a U.S. Post Office adjacent 3900 North 7th Avenue. 

MILLIONS OF VOTERS HAVE ALREADY CAST BALLOTS FOR NOV. 5 ELECTION 

Dieter Klofkorn has been arrested aft galore ballots were burned during a mailbox fire, officials say. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office/Fox10 Phoenix)

The Phoenix Fire Department says the fishy "arrived aboriginal Thursday... and lit a occurrence wrong the bluish drive-up postulation mailbox" earlier crews responded, forced the container unfastened and extinguished the flames. 

"Approximately 20 electoral ballots were damaged, on with further miscellaneous mail," the occurrence section added, according to Fox10 Phoenix. "The Postal Inspector took possession of the damaged ballots and mail." 

ARIZONA BEGINS IN-PERSON AND ABSENTEE VOTING 

An elections authoritative prepares to number mail-in ballots connected the archetypal time of tabulation, connected Wednesday, Oct. 23, astatine the Maricopa County Recorder's Office successful Phoenix.  (AP/Matt York)

The presumption besides cited Phoenix Police Sgt. Robert Scherer, who said, "Klofkorn has a decent past with Phoenix police, and the vale surrounding." 

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer is present encouraging section voters who utilized that mailbox to cheque the status of their ballots online. 

Ballots are counted astatine the Maricopa County Recorder's Office successful Phoenix connected Oct. 23. A fig of ballots were burned successful a suspected arson incidental this week astatine a U.S. Post Office determination successful the city, officials say. (AP/Matt York)

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"Threats are not OK," Mayor Kate Gallego besides told Fox10 Phoenix. "Attempts to intimidate are profoundly illegal, and volition beryllium prosecuted to the fullest grade of the law."