Arizona election ballots damaged after USPS mailbox lit on fire, suspect arrested

"Klofkorn stated that he committed the arson because he wanted to be arrested and that his actions were not politically motivated and not related to anything involving the upcoming election," the Phoenix Police Department said in a statement. 

Images taken from the scene showed a charred mailbox outside a U.S. Post Office near 3900 North 7th Avenue. 

The Phoenix Fire Department says the suspect "arrived early Thursday... and lit a fire inside the blue drive-up collection mailbox" before crews responded, forced the box open and extinguished the flames. 

The station also cited Phoenix Police Sgt. Robert Scherer, who said, "Klofkorn has a decent history with Phoenix police, and the valley surrounding." 

"Threats are not OK," Mayor Kate Gallego also told Fox10 Phoenix. "Attempts to intimidate are deeply illegal, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."