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U.S. Elections

FBI investigates ballot drop box fires in Oregon and Washington


Two separate ballot drop box fires are being investigated by the FBI in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Officials believe the incidents may be connected. 

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In Vancouver, officials said potentially “hundreds” of ballots were damaged. Police were called to the scene around 4 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. Officers said they found a “suspicious device” next to the box.

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About a half an hour before the incident in Vancouver, the Portland Police Bureau responded to another ballot box fire. Security officers in the area put out the flames. 

Officers say an incendiary device was placed inside the box, starting the fire. A fire suppressant that was also inside the box protected most of the ballots, except three that were damaged. 

Investigators announced they believe the incidents and one other incident earlier this month in Vancouver are connected. 

Last week, several ballots were damaged in Phoenix after a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was lit on fire. Police arrested a suspect in connection with that incident. 

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[Karah Rucker]

JUST A WEEK OUT FROM ELECTION DAY … THE F-B-I IS INVESTIGATING AFTER FIRE BROKE OUT AT BALLOT DROP BOXES IN PORTLAND OREGON AND VANCOUVER WASHINGTON.

THIS IS VIDEO FROM THE SCENE IN VANCOUVER EARLY MONDAY MORNING … WHERE POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF BALLOTS ARE NOW DAMAGED. 

VANCOUVER POLICE OFFICERS SAY THEY FOUND A “SUSPICIOUS DEVICE” NEXT TO THE BOX.

ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THAT … PORTLAND POLICE RESPONDED TO ANOTHER BALLOT BOX FIRE. 

SECURITY OFFICERS IN THE AREA PUT THE FLAMES OUT. 

OFFICERS SAY AN INCENDIARY DEVICE WAS PLACED INSIDE THE BOX. 

THREE BALLOTS ARE DAMAGED FROM THIS INCIDENT. 

A FIRE SUPPRESSANT INSIDE THE BOX PROTECTED ALL OF THE OTHER BALLOTS.

IT’S NOT CLEAR IF THE TWO INCIDENTS ARE RELATED. 

LAST WEEK – SEVERAL BALLOTS WERE DAMAGED IN PHOENIX AFTER A U-S POSTAL SERVICE MAILBOX WAS LIT ON FIRE. 

POLICE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH THAT INCIDENT. 

FOR SAN I’M … KARAH RUCKER.

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