Authorities arrested a temporary election worker in Arizona on Thursday for an alleged security breach at a counting center, Fox News reported.
Walter Lingfield, 37, was arrested on suspicion of stealing security fobs and keys from the vote counting center. according to He told Fox News that security camera footage showed Lingfield allegedly stealing a red lanyard containing a valuable security fob and keys from a desk at the facility. When confronted by his employer, Lingfield initially denied the theft, but a subsequent search of Lingfield's vehicle revealed the lanyard.
However, the fob itself was not immediately found until a search of Lingfield's home. Upon his arrest outside his home, detectives noticed visible evidence in his car consistent with stolen items, according to Fox News. Lingfield later admitted to taking the fob, claiming he returned it after realizing the potential consequences of his actions. He allegedly took the fob in an attempt to “clean up” and secure a full-time position at the Maricopa County Counting and Election Center.
An Arizona elections official has been accused of stealing from the Maricopa County Counting and Election Center in Phoenix. https://t.co/jFeFmohgTn
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) June 25, 2024
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Russ Skinner, praised election staff and law enforcement for their swift response to the incident. (RELATED: MSNBC host calls Maricopa County vote tally “best in the country”)
“Without the Maricopa County Election Center staff, we would not have been able to get there in time to find the missing evidence and apprehend the suspect,” Skinner said, according to Fox News.
High-speed tabulation machines are installed in a tabulation room at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center (MCTEC) to count early ballots ahead of the 2024 Arizona Primary and General Election in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 3, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
The theft prompted the counting center to conduct a security overhaul and reprogram all security fobs and associated tablets, according to Fox News.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes affirmed the resilience of the state's election system.
“Our systems are not only capable of detecting anomalies, but are supported by experts dedicated to preserving our democratic process,” Fontes said in a statement, according to Fox News. “While this incident is unwelcome, it speaks to the effectiveness of the security protocols built into Arizona's election systems.”
