On Friday morning, April 12, a package suspected of containing an explosive device was found addressed to the office of Maricopa County, AZ, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known as “America’s toughest sheriff.”
The package was intercepted by postal authorities in Flagstaff and was submitted to an X-ray scan that showed what looked like an explosive device hidden inside.
Postal authorities said that the package was flagged by a “very astute” carrier who thought the thing was suspicious.
The bomb squad was quickly called and the suspicious package was destroyed.
Tom Mangan, a spokesman in Phoenix for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told reporters that the box was damaged in transit and was leaking gun powder.
Sheriff Arpaio shrugged off the possible attempt on his life, saying, “That’s the nature of the business. I’m getting many threats. This isn’t the first time.”
The newly re-elected Arpaio is fighting a recall effort that is getting increasingly vicious.
The Arizona-based Conservative Business League, a group leading an effort to defeat the recall of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, said the incident was “disturbing.”
“We are disturbed to learn about the threat on the lives of Sheriff Joe and his staff today, but today is not a day to discuss politics,” the CBL said in a statement released to Breitbart News. “There is an ongoing investigation, and we want to let law enforcement do their jobs and get to the bottom of it and work to remove the public threat. We will reserve comment until we know more.”
“But we are certainly grateful no one was hurt,” the CBL concluded.