A temporary worker at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) has been arrested for alleged theft, prompting the county to reprogram its security equipment at a cost of around $20,000.
Walter Ringfield, 27, who was on probation for a previous felony, was apprehended on Friday for allegedly stealing a security fob and keys from MCTEC, according to KTAR News. Ringfield now faces charges of theft and criminal damage.
In a statement to ABC15 on Monday, MCTEC said, “Maricopa County Elections has referred a matter to law enforcement that involves an alleged theft of an item by a temporary election worker from the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center.
“On Friday morning, when completing a daily inventory, Maricopa County elections workers identified that an item was taken from the Ballot Tabulation Center on Thursday evening, and staff took immediate action to investigate the matter and contacted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office,” the statement continued. “The stolen item has been recovered but to ensure the integrity of Maricopa County Elections, election workers are reprogramming and re-conducting logic and accuracy testing of all equipment.”
Surveillance footage revealed Ringfield taking the fob and keys on Thursday. The arrest warrant detailed that Ringfield was seen grabbing a red scrunchy wrist lanyard with a security fob and keys attached from a desk, then placing them into his shorts pocket.
During a search of Ringfield’s Phoenix home on Friday, detectives found the wrist lanyard in his car and the fob in a bedroom dresser. The fob is crucial for securing tablets at MCTEC.
“A director at the facility stated that the estimated cost of the reprogramming would be greater than $19,000 dollars, and the secure operation of the facility is greatly impeded until the reprogramming is complete,” the probable cause statement reported, per KTAR News.
Ringfield reportedly said he was terminated from his job at MCTEC because “they thought he stole something,” according to ABC15. He claimed his reason for taking the fob was because he wanted to “clean up,” aiming to make his temporary job permanent by demonstrating his dedication.
Maricopa County is gearing up for its July 30th primary election, with early voting beginning on July 3rd.
"*" indicates required fields
