LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man was arrested at a polling station in the Portland neighborhood on Tuesday morning.
Around 9 a.m., Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) responded to a polling location at the Molly Leonard Portland Community Center, located at 640 N. 27th Street, on a report of a "disorderly person."
Upon arrival, police said they discovered that 40-year-old Jacen Cockerell was allegedly making threatening gestures towards voters while wielding a flag connected to a fishing pole.
LMPD said they believe Cockerell intimidated at least one voter, preventing them from voting though the suspects actions. Officers said he also caused damage to a voting machine by ripping off the printer attached to the machine.
Cockerell was arrested and charged with two counts of menacing, one count of tampering (destruction of a voting machine), and one count of interfering with an election.
He's now booked at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Due to this incident, officials said voting hours at the Blue Lick Elementary polling station have been extended by 30 minutes. In addition, due to the potential gas leak Tuesday morning, voting hours at the Highland Baptist Church polling station have also been extended by 30 minutes.
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