FBI offers $25,000 reward for information on ballot box fires suspect in Washington, Oregon
The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information on a suspect who set a series of fires to ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election.
Surveillance video released by the FBI shows what the agency believes is the male suspect driving an early-model Volvo S-60 sedan.
The man, who authorities have previously described as being 30-40 years old, is suspected of being behind the destruction of hundreds of ballots in Washington state and Oregon. Investigators later discovered pro-Palestinian messages on the incendiary devices used to spark the blazes, which were set less than one week ahead of Election Day.
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FBI releases video of ballot box arson in Portland
The first fires were reported Oct. 8 at two ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington, according to the FBI. The agency suspects the same man is also behind fires set Oct. 28 on more ballot drop boxes in Vancouver, as well as in Portland, Oregon.
In surveillance video released by the FBI, an individual can be seen driving up to a Portland ballot box, lighting an incendiary device and placing it on the ballot box before driving away. The video shows smoke rising from the ballot box before sparks and flames suddenly erupt.
The video clearly shows the Volvo, which the FBI believes could be a 2003 or 2004 model. The vehicle is missing a Volvo logo on the front grill and "displayed a fraudulent temporary Washington license plate," according to the FBI.
The suspect has previously been described as a white male in his 30s or 40s with thinning hair. Authorities believe he may have experience in metal fabrication or welding.
Anyone with information can call the FBI's tipline at 1-800-225-5324 or contact any FBI field office. Anonymous tips can be sent online at tips.fbi.gov.
Nearly 500 ballots destroyed before election
The Oct. 28 ballot box arsons in both Portland and Vancouver resembled a similar incident on Oct. 8, before ballots were being mailed to Oregon residents.
The first arson on Oct. 28 came in Portland, when police said they responded to reports of a ballot box on fire at about 3:30 a.m. Thirty minutes later, police in neighboring Vancouver, Washington about 15 miles away responded to another arson at a ballot box.
In Washington, Clark County officials said at least 488 ballots were damaged as a result of a failure of the fire suppression system in its box. The county planned to send replacement ballots to voters.
In Oregon, a Multnomah County election official said just three ballots were destroyed and those voters would be contacted.
Investigators later discovered a pro-Palestinian message reading "Free Gaza" on the devices that set the boxes aflame in all three incidents, according to the New York Times and ABC News, citing anonymous sources. It was not immediately known whether the suspect was a pro-Palestinian activist or whether the fires were an attempt to cause confusion ahead of the election, the outlets reported.
This article has been updated to correct a typo.
Contributing: John Bacon, Natalie Neysa Alund and James Powel, USA TODAY
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ballot box fires: FBI offers reward for Oregon, Washington arsons
