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 group occurrence to a U.S. Postal Service mailbox, officials say. 

Dieter Klofkorn, 35, has been arrested connected 1 felony count of Arson to Property pursuing nan incident that unfolded early Thursday greeting successful Arizona’s capital. 

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

Images taken from nan segment 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 nan fishy "arrived early Thursday... and lit a occurrence wrong nan bluish drive-up postulation mailbox" earlier crews responded, forced nan container unfastened and extinguished nan flames. 

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

ARIZONA BEGINS IN-PERSON AND ABSENTEE VOTING 

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

The position besides cited Phoenix Police Sgt. Robert Scherer, who said, "Klofkorn has a decent history pinch Phoenix police, and nan vale surrounding." 

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

Ballots are counted astatine nan Maricopa County Recorder's Office successful Phoenix connected Oct. 23. A number of ballots were burned successful a suspected arson incident this week astatine a U.S. Post Office location successful nan 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 will beryllium prosecuted to nan fullest grade of nan law."