Ohio Election Worker Brandishes Gun At Polling Station

A poll worker on duty in Cleveland for the 2016 presidential nominating vote is facing charges after threatening other election workers Tuesday at the Louisa May Alcott Elementary School.

Alan Bethea, 45, was working at the polling site Tuesday when he got in an argument with other workers, police said. During the argument Bethea pulled a .380 pistol from his backpack and made verbal threats toward the other workers, police said in a news release. During the argument Bethea never pointed the gun at anyone, but made verbal threats, according to police.

Bethea walked away, police said, but was taken into custody at around noon at West 107th Street and Detroit Avenue after he left the scene on foot.

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Media and Voter Education Specialist Mike West said in a statement Tuesday that Bethea was immediately terminated from his position as a poll worker as a result of the incident. 

"The Board of Elections does not tolerate this type of behavior," said West. "The Board is assisting the Cleveland Police Department in their investigation and voting was not interrupted by the incident."

Bethea is charged with aggravated menacing, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons under a disability. He is also facing charges of possession of marijuana after a small amount was found in his backpack, police said.