Man Accused Of Setting Boston Ballot Drop Box On Fire Arrested

A Boston man accused of setting a ballot drop box on fire has reportedly been arrested.

Worldy Armand, 39, was charged with willful and malicious burning on Monday morning, the Boston Police Department confirmed to WCVB. The Boston Election Department notified the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office about the fire in the ballot drop box located at the main branch of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square at around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Officers responded to a call to the area at 4:11 a.m. and saw the Boston Fire Department firefighters already at the scene, Boston Police confirmed to WCVB.

The firefighters were unable to initially determine if the smoke coming from the ballot box was caused by a fire burning on the inside, Boston Police told WCVB.

Firefighters eventually used water to extinguish the fire inside the ballot box. Police released surveillance photos of a suspect Sunday night and came into contact with a man, later identified as Armand, matching the suspect description in the area of Copley Square at around 10:50 p.m., WCVB reports. Police discovered that Armand had an active warrant out of Ipswich District Court for stolen property when speaking with him.

Members of the fire investigation unit were able to identify Armand as the suspect in the ballot box fire incident while he was in police custody and charges were filed.

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