PHOENIX (NEXSTAR) — A man was arrested Thursday in Arizona in connection to an incident earlier in the day, in which a United States Postal Service mailbox was lit on fire — causing damage to several mail-in ballots. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego confirmed the arrest Thursday afternoon.
Photos of the damaged mailbox circulated online Thursday, with many expressing concerns over the extent of damage to the mail ballots. As reported by NBC News, Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson Rob McDade said about 20 ballots were damaged inside the mailbox, which is located at 3905 N. 7th Avenue.
McDade told NBC News the damaged ballots were given to the Postal Inspector to determine what needs to be done and that law enforcement will continue to investigate the incident. As reported by both ABC News and the New York Times, the suspect was identified by police as 35-year-old Dieter Klofkorn. He was charged with a single count of arson, according to police.
Phoenix police reported that Klofkorn said the arson was not politically motivated and that he just wanted to be arrested, according to multiple outlets.
“There is zero tolerance for criminal activity in our community, and we are working collaboratively with every level of government to bring the perpetrator to justice,” said Mayor Gallego on X Thursday.
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, which handles mail-in ballots, urged voters to check the status of their ballots through its online portal.
Discussion of the incident made ripples across social media due to the location. As with many recent Presidential Elections, Arizona is one of the biggest battleground states in 2024. Arizona’s 11 Electoral College votes would be a boon for either Harris or Trump and potentially help send either to the White House.