Darryl Webb / Reuters, file Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was re-elected for his sixth term in November.

An explosive device sent to "America's toughest sheriff" was intercepted by police in Arizona on Thursday, officials said.

A suspicious package addressed to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's downtown Phoenix headquarters was X-rayed by officers in Flagstaff, Ariz., according to authorities.

A bomb team later destroyed the device.

The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Flagstaff Police were investigating.

Arpaio, 80, has earned headlines nationwide as a result of his tent city jail and immigration roundups.

The controversial lawman was re-elected for his sixth term in November.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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