Police release description of ballot box burning suspect

Manhunt for a suspect in arson targeting ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest continued Thursday as details of a suspect and a possible motive emerged amid concerns that more boxes would burn.

In Oregon, Portland Police Department spokesman Mike Benner said the suspect has “extensive experience in metal fabrication and welding.” Benner, speaking at a briefing Wednesday, described him as a white man in his 30s to 40s with short hair or balding, a thin to medium build and a thin face.

“It is very possible that the suspect intends to continue targeted attacks in the area,” Benner warned.

Portland police said they responded fire reports at the polling booth in the Buckman neighborhood around 3:30 a.m. Monday. Police in neighboring Vancouver, Wash., responded to a fire at the ballot box about 30 minutes later.

Police later released two photos of a vehicle that investigators believe was linked to both fires. Authorities were looking for a black or dark 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with no front license plate and an unknown rear plate.

Developments:

Portland Police Chief Robert Day warned that despite increased security for the polls, similar attacks could still happen: “It would be really naive or unfair of us to say, ‘Hey, that’s what they’re doing’ when we don’t have him in custody”.

Crimes Stoppers of Oregon is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.

In Washington, Clark County officials said Wednesday that the failure of the fire suppression system in its box resulted in at least 488 damaged ballots. Replacement ballots were sent to voters. Election staff were unable to identify six of the ballots – and other ballots may have been burned to ashes and would be unidentifiable.

Officials were changing pickup times and increasing ballot box security, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said.

“I appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience as we work through this unprecedented event,” Kimsey said. “We have taken steps that I hope will increase voter confidence in using the county’s ballot boxes.”

In Oregon, Multnomah County elections official Tim Scott said a fire suppression system limited damage to three ballots and those voters were contacted.

Vancouver police said Monday’s arson was similar to an attempt at the ballot box there on October 8. The device did not explode. Voting in both states is almost entirely by mail and drop boxes.

The FBI said it is coordinating with federal, state and local agencies to investigate the attacks. The FBI declined to comment on whether the fires would be investigated as domestic terrorism.

pro-palestinian messages were found on the devices that set fire to the boxes, according to reports. The New York Times and ABC Newsciting anonymous sources, reported that a message reading “Free Gaza” appeared on devices used in Monday’s fireswhich took place 15 miles apart in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.

Benner and Day declined to answer questions about the cause of the fires or the writing on the boxes.

Messages that read “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” also appeared on the device found Oct. 8 in Vancouver, the Times and ABC reported. It was not immediately known if the suspect was a pro-Palestinian activist or if the fires were an attempt to cause confusion ahead of the election, media reported, citing anonymous sources.

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and James Powell