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Tempe police make arrests in Dem office shooting, hazmat scare

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(This story has been updated with new information and a photo.)

Tempe police said they arrested a suspect Tuesday in connection with the three shootings at Democratic Party offices that began in September.

Police said the same person earlier in the day “hung suspicious bags of white powder on several political signs containing razor blades that he had posted in Ahwatukee.”

That incident was followed hours later by reports of an anthrax attack at Kari Lake's Senate campaign office in Phoenix, prompting an evacuation.

Phoenix authorities reported no injuries at Lake's office.

But it was the second time that day that Phoenix hazmat teams were called to investigate unknown suspicious substances targeting political targets. Officers previously responded to the Democratic political poster site in the Ahwatukee Foothills.

It was not immediately known whether the two hazardous materials incidents were related.

The campaign office of Lake, a Republican running for U.S. Senate against Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, is near 40th Street and Camelback Road. It was evacuated after a suspicious substance was found.

Lake's campaign said on social media that the office received a package labeled anthrax.

Lake was not present at the time and no injuries were reported.

What happened in the Ahwatukee Foothills incident?

Previously, Phoenix firefighters were dispatched to a section of Chandler Boulevard in southeast Phoenix after an unknown substance was discovered on political signs. Authorities closed an area near Chandler Boulevard and 44th Street.

Although no threat to the community was reported, the Phoenix Fire Department confirmed the area was closed as a precaution.

Based on images captured by other media outlets, it appeared there were signs critical of Democrats at the site. AZ Family displayed signs that read “DEMS LIE” and “DEMS KILL JEWS.”

A spokesman for the Arizona Democratic Party declined to comment when contacted by the Arizona Republic.

“All forms of hate speech have the worst impact on the person writing it or expressing it,” said State Senator Mitzi Epstein, who represents Ahwatukee Foothills.

Steve Slugocki, the former chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party who is still active in Democratic circles, said Kamala Harris' signs were smeared with some substance. He did not provide any further details.

State Rep. Stacey Travers, a Democrat who represents the Ahwatukee region, said the issue involves hand-painted signs posted on palm trees. Attached to the signs were packages that contained a suspicious substance and appeared to have been tampered with to release a powdery substance, Travers said.

She didn't know what substance it was.

A local man who has created offensive hand-painted signs in the past is known to the community and police, she said, adding that a community action meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Pecos Community Center.

Authorities continued to investigate.

“The Phoenix Police Department will investigate this incident and conduct further investigation. We want to reiterate that there was no danger to the community, but our response will always err on the side of caution,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. said Phil Krynsky.

What happened at Democratic headquarters in Tempe?

Tempe police reported three shootings in 20 days at the Democratic Party headquarters near Southern Avenue and Priest Drive, north of the Arizona Mills shopping center.

All of the shootings occurred between midnight and 1 a.m. and resulted in no injuries. According to police, the shootings involved air rifle and firearm projectiles. Damage included bullet holes in the glass door and a window.

The first shooting occurred on Monday, Sept. 16, followed by a second on Monday, Sept. 23, and a third on Sunday, Oct. 6, police said.

Investigators were seeking information about a “suspicious vehicle” that they believed could be a silver 2008-13 Toyota Highlander with a sunroof, roof rack and five-spoke wheels.

It is unclear how they linked the arrested person to the incidents. Tempe police have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Why was Kari Lake's Phoenix office evacuated?

Lake said her campaign office was targeted by a package labeled “anthrax.” The Phoenix Fire Department responded with a hazmat unit and evacuated the office.

“Today my office received a suspicious envelope that may contain anthrax – an attempt to intimidate and silence me. This isn't just about me; it is an attack on our movement. “I will not be intimidated and those responsible must be brought to justice,” Lake’s social media post read in part. “I would like to thank all first responders and the hazardous materials team for their quick and professional response. Now is the time to unite against these dangerous, un-American tactics.”

Lake released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, in which he lambasted “the radical left” and “the mainstream media” while addressing the incident.

Lake's campaign published on real.”

Just a few days before Election Day 2022, “suspicious white powder” was reportedly found by a staffer in an envelope in Lake's office while she was running for governor in the same building. A few days later, police confirmed that no powder was indeed found in the envelope.

Her opponent, Gallego, also released a statement on Rapid Response from @PhoenixPolice, @PHXFire and the Hazardous Materials Team. I hope everything will be resolved safely and quickly.

Both incidents remain actively investigated by the Phoenix Fire Department and Police Department. Further details about the substances involved have yet to be revealed.

Republican reporters Ronald J. Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl, Maritza Dominguez, Perry Vandell and Karen Bartunek contributed to this article.

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