'Unprofessional' Medford Poll Workers Arrested On Election Day

MEDFORD, MA — A pair of poll workers were arrested Tuesday after being told to leave for "unprofessional" behavior and assaulting a police officer and colleague, according to the City Clerk's office. Heather Bourque, 34, of Wilmington, and Derek Sands, 34, of Chelsea, were scheduled to work at the Gantcher Center at 7 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

They arrived half an hour late and were seen "nodding off" and not performing their duties, according to police. They were "hugging and holding each other" and "very rude" to voters, police said.

Sands and Bourque were ordered to leave after they were separated and warned about their behavior. Sands was disruptive and caused voters to leave the polling place, police said. An officer working the polls tried to arrest Sands, but Bourque jumped on his back, police said. Another poll worker was assaulted during the struggle, according to City Clerk Adam Hurtubise.

Additional police officers arrived and helped place the pair under arrest. Sands was charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. Bourque was charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer (two counts), resisting arrest and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to wit shod foot.

The workers were replaced at the Gantcher Center, the polling place for Ward 4, Precinct 1. No voters were present as the situation escalated, and there was "no impact to any voter," Hurtubise wrote in a letter to candidates.