RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The former head of the South Carolina Election Commission, who was fired last month, has been arrested in Richland County, according to jail records.

Records show Howard Knapp was booked into the Alvin Glenn Detention Center on Friday on 11 charges, including ethics violations, misconduct in office, and embezzlement.

Knapp was ousted as executive director on Sept. 16 due to a “desire for new leadership,” Chairman Dennis Shedd said at the time.

But, Shedd said at an Oct. 15 meeting that an investigation into how a contract for new machines for voting for $28 million ended up costing the agency millions more led to Knapp’s firing, as well as his second in command and the resignation of a third employee.

Knapp is set to appear in court at 2 p.m. for a bond h

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