Video shows suspect stealing security keys from Maricopa County election center

PHOENIX (AZFamily) – The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance video Wednesday that investigators say shows a temporary election worker stealing keys and a security key fob of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center earlier this year.

The security items were attached to a key ring and a red plastic spiral tie and left on a desk.

According to officers, surveillance video from June 20 shows Walter Ringfield walking past the desk and seeing the keys and key fob.

He stopped, pretended to stretch, and grabbed the keys before walking away.

In the video, he can be seen once again behaving as if he were stretching while passing another employee.

According to the MCSO incident report, election workers took an inventory of the key fobs and noticed one was missing.

They reviewed security footage and saw Ringfield taking one, officers said.

When asked if he had a second set of keys and a key fob, he said he wasn’t sure and couldn’t remember anything, the report said.

He said if he had accidentally taken the key fob, it would have been in his car because he wasn’t in his shorts when he got home, MCSO said.

When they searched his car, they found the red plastic spiral tape and the plastic tag identifying station one, which matched the missing keys, but no keys or remote.

He said they were able to sit in his lunch box in the building, but security checked his box and didn’t find the keys.

Ringfield then asked to go back to his car and left, the report said.

Employees changed passcodes and key fob information, which officials said cost more than $20,000.

Ringfield was not allowed to enter the building and he was later arrested at his home in north Phoenix.

Detectives said they found the security key fob on a dresser in the master bedroom.

Authorities and top government officials later said the theft was not the case consequences for election operations.

Ringfield was indicted on one count of computer tampering, one count of theft, one count of burglary and one count of criminal trespass.

Ringfield is also accused of stealing $9,500 worth of vintage jewelry from the mannequins at the Phoenix Art Museum.

In the days before the theft of the election office, he is said to have walked through a secure area seven challenge coins and three coasters taken of the state Senate.

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