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Regulation enforcement officers in Maricopa County, Arizona, arrested a brief election employee for allegedly stealing a safety fob and keys from a poll tabulation middle.
In keeping with a possible trigger assertion obtained by Fox Information Digital, Walter Ringfield, 27, of Phoenix, was seen on safety footage taking the objects shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday. The video exhibits him approaching a desk and a number of tabulators, then taking a crimson wrist lanyard containing the safety fob and keys, the doc says.
The assertion says Ringfield positioned the lanyard in his shorts pocket after briefly stretching. When confronted by his employer, Ringfield allegedly denied the theft, however then steered the lanyard is perhaps in his automotive “if” he had mistakenly taken it, the doc says. A subsequent search of his automobile revealed a crimson lanyard and an identical plastic tag, however the fob remained lacking.
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Walter Ringfield, 27, has been accused of stealing a safety fob and keys from Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Middle. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace)
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Detectives arrested Ringfield outdoors his residence in Phoenix on suspicion of theft and prison harm. On the time, the possible trigger assertion says, they noticed a crimson plastic merchandise inside Ringfield’s automotive matching the outline of the lacking lanyard.
Ringfield allegedly admitted to taking the fob however claimed he returned it after roughly 20 minutes, citing a need to “clear up” in hopes of securing a everlasting employment place on the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Middle.
MCSO detectives then executed a search warrant at Ringfield’s residence and located the lacking fob on a dresser in his main bedroom.
Safety footage exhibits Walter Ringfield taking the fob, in line with a possible trigger assertion. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace)
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At a press convention on Tuesday, Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner mentioned election staffers and regulation enforcement’s “swift response and supreme motion helped safeguard democracy and fast response to the safety protocols we now have with elections proved to be efficient.”
“If it wasn’t for the workers members on the Maricopa County Elections Middle, we wouldn’t have been capable of get on this in time to doubtlessly discover the lacking proof and get a suspect in custody,” he mentioned.
In keeping with investigators, safety fobs are used with particular safe tablets. As a result of one was eliminated, the workers should now reprogram each fob and pill.
Walter Ringfield was caught on digital camera on the Maricopa County’s tabulation middle. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Maricopa County, which has had repeated tabulation tools issues, has develop into a hotbed of election-fraud claims lately, particularly over the past presidential election in 2020. County officers mentioned they don’t anticipate the incident to “have any impression by any means on the first,” which is scheduled for July 30.
Whereas the incident occurred solely months earlier than the extremely anticipated presidential election in November, it serves as a reassurance that election security measures within the county are working, in line with Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
Ringfield is seen strolling within the tabulation room. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace)
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“Our techniques are usually not solely designed to detect anomalies however are additionally supported by devoted professionals dedicated to upholding the democratic course of,” Fontes mentioned in an announcement.
“Whereas this occasion is unwelcome, it speaks to the effectiveness of the safety protocols constructed into Arizona’s election techniques. The swift actions of the Maricopa County elections workers, together with the re-conducting of logic and accuracy assessments, builds in further layers of safety of all affected tools. This fast response will forestall any potential impression on the upcoming elections. The Secretary of State’s workplace will collaborate with regulation enforcement to deal with and examine this incident to make sure accountability and swift justice.”
Fox Information’ Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox Information Digital protecting politics, crime, police and extra. Story suggestions might be despatched to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
Maricopa County, AZ, election employee charged with stealing safety fob, keys
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