North Carolina State Fair ride operator arrested

RALEIGH, N.C. – The operator of a ride that malfunctioned Thursday at the North Carolina State Fair has been arrested after Wake County authorities said an investigation showed the ride had been “intentionally tampered” with.

Timothy Dwayne Tutterow, 46, of Quitman, Ga., faces three charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury. Tutterow works for an independent ride contractor, officials said.

“After inspection of the ride, we determined that it had been tampered with and critical safety devices were compromised,” Wake Sheriff Donnie Harrison said.

Five people were hurt in the incident involving the Vortex ride. Three remain hospitalized.

At a news conference Saturday, Harrison said investigators are still examining the ride to learn exactly how it was tampered with.