Kentucky man wielding pole charged with interfering with election
(The Hill) — A man was arrested at a polling location in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday for allegedly making threatening gestures towards voters, damaging a voting machine and intimidating at least one person from voting, local police said in a statement.
Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officials arrested 40-year-old Jacen Cockerell at the Molly Leonard Portland Community Center polling location after responding to a report of a disorderly person at 9:17 a.m.
Cockerell was charged with two counts of “menacing,” one count of “tampering, destruction of a voting machine,” and one count of “interfering with election.”
Abortion is on the ballot in Tuesday’s key elections
When police arrived at the polling location, they learned Cockerell had allegedly been “wielding a flag attached to a fishing pole” and allegedly making “threatening gestures towards voters.” Police also said Cockerell’s alleged actions prevented at least one person from voting.
Cockerell allegedly damaged a voting machine “by ripping off the printer attached to the machine,” the statement read.
“LMPD is passionately committed to ensuring everyone’s right to vote is constitutionally protected,” read a quote from the LMPD in the statement.
Kentucky voters are deciding the fates of several statewide offices on Tuesday, including a closely watched race for governor.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
