Arizona election worker seen stealing from Senate security desk day before election center theft: officials

Former Maricopa County temporary election worker Walter Ringfield is accused of stealing from a security staff member's desk at the Arizona Senate building.

Walter Ringfield mugshot (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

Ringfield faces new charges, including trespassing, theft and burglary, DPS said. 

The incident occurred just a day before Ringfield was seen on security footage allegedly taking the items shortly after 5 p.m. at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center. 

The video showed him approaching a desk and multiple tabulators, then taking a red wrist lanyard containing the security fob and keys, a probable cause statement obtained by Fox News Digital says. 

Detectives with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrested Ringfield on June 21 outside his home in Phoenix on suspicion of theft and criminal damage

At the time, the probable cause statement says, they observed a red plastic item inside Ringfield's car matching the description of the missing lanyard.

Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates holds up a black security key as an example of one stolen from the tabulation center. (KSAZ)

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At Tuesday's press conference, Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner was asked if authorities had a reason to believe the theft from the ballot tabulation center was "politically motivated." He said he could not speculate at this time, explaining that investigators "are still combing through a lot of digital evidence that were taken at the scene and going through items that were taken in the search warrant." 

"We don’t have any indication at this point, but we’re not ruling it out. And we’re going to leave no stone unturned," he said. 

Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-election-worker-seen-stealing-senate-security-desk-day-before-election-center-theft-officials