An armed sheriff’s deputy reportedly confronted Maricopa County Recorder’s Office (MCRO) employees over the weekend during the office’s ongoing elections authority dispute with the board of supervisors.
Under the directive of special counsel appointed by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, an off-duty deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office approached MCRO staff, including MCRO IT Director Bryan Colby, as part of a criminal investigation for alleged theft of a piece of election equipment.
Recorder Justin Heap contends the equipment belonged to his office.
Heap responded to the confrontations by filing an emergency motion with the Arizona Suprerior Court on Sunday. Heap asked the court to order a return of the disputed equipment, halt further retaliation, and ensure board compliance with prior orders.
Heap accused the board of supervisors of “retaliation” for continuing to resist their asserted control over elections authority.
https://x.com/azjustinheap/status/2064112982276387164
The Arizona Superior Court ruled last month that the board of supervisors had overreached in their power by claiming sole election authority and wresting powers and resources away from the recorder. The board is in the process of filing an appeal, after the court rejected their motion to stay the ruling.
The recorder’s office issued a statement on Monday claiming Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell acted on unfounded allegations of improper election equipment usage filed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and their Elections Department.
According to the board and its department, law enforcement told the recorder’s employees that they were under criminal investigation for using the equipment. The recorder’s office contends that the equipment in question was purchased and owned by the recorder’s office.
According to Heap’s court filing, Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett filed a complaint with the county’s human resources department alleging MCRO had attempted to steal two of the county’s ballot envelope scanners.
Heap accused the board of criminalizing election workers carrying out lawful orders while accusing him of criminalizing election workers.
“For weeks, the Board has attempted to convince the public that I somehow intend to seek criminal penalties against election workers for performing their duties,” said Heap. “That claim is a lie, and they know it. Yet, while making those false accusations, the Board was quietly pursuing criminal investigations and penalties against election workers employed by the Recorder’s Office.”
Heap characterized the coordination between the board and its elections department with Mitchell’s office as another calculated escalation by the board of supervisors. Heap said the board has made it impossible to have meaningful cooperation.
“Unfortunately, this latest assault on my staff perfectly illustrates why meaningful cooperation has been impossible,” said Heap. “While the Board publicly talks about collaboration, claims it wants to work together, and falsely accuses others of creating conflict, behind the scenes it bullies employees, interferes with the Recorder’s operations, and now seeks to subject election workers to criminal investigations for attempting to lawfully do their job using equipment purchased and owned by the Recorder’s Office.”
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee and Vice Chair Debbie Lesko claimed in response to Heap’s court filing and allegations that two MCRO employees removed and within an hour returned a ballot scanner in mid-March during the Tempe Jurisdictional Election.
McGee and Lesko disclosed that the ballot scanner was deemed compromised as a result of the temporary removal and replaced at a cost of $70,000 to the county.
According to the pair, MCRO declined to participate in the human resources investigation into the ballot scanner’s removal.
STATEMENT: Chair @KateMcGeeAZ and Vice Chair @DebbieLesko respond to Recorder’s latest court filing. pic.twitter.com/vPUVfxOAhE
— Maricopa County (@maricopacounty) June 8, 2026
Unf____ng believable these two entities, that are supposedly acting in the best interests of the general public, continue to act like complete idiots. While I think the BOS is more to blame and being power hungry juveniles, knock this s__t off and act like adults for a change!! For f__ks sake!!!!