Bomb Scare Disrupts Vote Counting in La Paz County

PARKER — A bomb threat disrupted the ballot counting process in La Paz County late Tuesday night, prompting an extensive investigation at the county administration building. La Paz County Assessor Ana Camacho confirmed that the elections office and recorder’s office were placed under lockdown following the receipt of an email bomb threat directed at county officials.

In response to the threat, County elections director Bob Bartlesmeyer ordered Immediate security measures, including securing the ballots. A bomb-detecting dog was dispatched from Yuma to assist in the investigation, and the area was cleared just before 10 p.m., according to Camacho.

Bartlesmeyer was not reachable for comments at that time. However, Camacho reported that ballots were safely escorted from various precincts to the elections office, with tabulation commencing around 10 p.m., marking a significant delay from the expected timeline.

J’aime MorgAine, a candidate for State Senate observing the election process, noted the increased police presence and street closures that accompanied the investigation.

The identity of the individual who sent the email threat remains unknown, as well as the specific target of the communication, according to Camacho.

Earlier in the evening, the La Paz County Elections Department released a statement acknowledging the “critical incident” and the resulting delay in ballot counting.

Subsequent updates relayed that police had cleared the incident, and ballots were secured and under police escort for transport to the secure receiving site. Unofficial election results were anticipated later that night.

River City Newspapers is actively gathering further details on this incident.