| MARICOPA COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEWS Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
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Republic: Victim hit in legs in drive-by shooting 05-07 news story by Alex Whitlatch A drive-by shooting Tuesday night could have stemmed from a fight earlier in the evening, police said. The shooting occurred just after 10:30 p.m. near on Coleman, near and Eighth Avenue and Country Club Drive in west Mesa. Police said several people were involved in a verbal and physical altercation prior to the shooting. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507abrk-driveby0507.html 12 News: Man shoots self after home invasion 05-08 news story All five occupants of a Phoenix home have escaped safely from a home invasion that began about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police reported. The suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound about four hours after the ordeal began, police said. A SWAT team arrived and found him inside early Thursday. Three of the occupants of the house at 4302 N. 87th Ave. managed to flee right away, police said. But two, a 77-year-old woman and an 8 year-old child, instead hid in a bedroom in the front of the home by themelves. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508homeinvasion0508.html Republic: Avondale teen is shot outside his home 05-07 news story by Elias C. Arnold A 16-year-old boy was taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after he was shot in the arm, Avondale police said. Officers were searching the area near 111th Avenue and Yuma Street for a black Chevy Avalanche they think was involved in the shooting, a police spokesman said. According to police, the boy was outside his home about 1:15 p.m. when the truck approached and someone fired at him. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507swv-shooting0507-ON.html Republic: 3 accused of supplying drug cartels appear in court 05-07 AP news story Three men accused of supplying hundreds of assault rifles and other guns to violent Mexican drug cartels have made their first court appearance in Phoenix. George Iknadosian, the owner of X Caliber Guns in north Phoenix, is accused of knowingly selling guns to "straw purchasers" paid to give the guns to members of drug cartels. Iknadosian appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court Tuesday evening. His bond was set at $75,000, and his next hearing was set for May 13, when he is scheduled to enter a plea. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507az-gunshop0507.html KTAR: Phoenix man shoots, kills thief stealing his truck 06-08 news story by Jim Cross A Phoenix man who took the law into his own hands to stop a truck thief could face charges. The unidentified man heard someone breaking into his truck, near 31st Avenue and Glendale, about 1 a.m. Thursday. He went outside and saw the truck being driven away. Police said the thief turned around and headed the truck toward the homeowner. ``The suspect accelerated the vehicle toward the homeowner," Tranter said. ``The homeowner fired several shots, at least one of those bullets struck and killed the suspect. He lost control of the truck, obviously, and crashed. Right now, our homicide investigators are on scene. They're doing a full investigation, and we're looking at all the dynamics that took place in this particular incident." Tranter said it's too early to determine if the shooter will be charged. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=830847&r=1 Republic: 'Thank god it's over': MCSO finds 13 people at suspected drop house 05-07 news story by Jim Walsh and Megan Boehnke A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office SWAT team went into a suspected drop house in Mesa on Wednesday and found 13 undocumented immigrants. Deputies said they were tipped by an anonymous caller about a residence in the 300 block of East Kenwood Circle, northwest of McKellips Road and Mesa Drive. After deputies arrived about 1:30, a man came out of the home and said he had been held against his will, according to the MCSO. “It appears to be a drop house,” said Doug Matteson, an MSCO spokesman. “That's why we made entry real quick, to make sure no one was injured.” The home is in the Kenwood Circle neighborhood, a cluster of middle-class homes in a quiet part of the city. Officials said coyotes, who are paid to bring undocumented workers into the country, could be among the 13 being held. . . http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2008/05/07/20080507mr-hostage.html Republic: Gunman prompts lockdown at Gilbert school 05-07 news story by Astrid Galvan Benjamin Franklin Charter School was on lockdown Wednesday morning after a man with a gun was spotted kneeling by a bush near Gilbert and Warner roads. Gilbert police said the suspect was seen on a canal holding a handgun. The school was locked down as a precaution due to its proximity to the suspect, police said. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507gr-lockdown0507.html Tribune: Man arrested in car theft, DUI, officer impersonation 05-08 news story by David Biscobing A Gilbert man driving a stolen vehicle was arrested Tuesday after officers stopped him on suspicion of drunken driving. Officers pulled over David Noble, 45, near Greenfield and Guadalupe roads, where they discovered he was driving a rental car that he didn’t return, police said. Noble also was driving on a suspended driver’s license and had drugs on him, police said. Police said Noble impersonated a police officer earlier in the day when he yelled at a girl and her father. Noble told them he was an off-duty policeman. . . http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/115785 Republic: SUV crashes into a Phoenix hair salon, injuring 2 05-07 news story by Leeann Skoda A woman who drove her vehicle into a Phoenix hair salon injuring two customers Wednesday told police her brakes failed when she tried to park. However, a Phoenix Police investigation found that the brakes of the 1999 Range Rover functioned correctly after the accident, Phoenix Police spokesman Sgt. Joel Tranter said. The vehicle traveled 25 feet into the Ambiance Haircolor Specialists building on 13th Street and Northern Avenue at about 1 p.m., Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Mark Faulkner said. Two customers, a 69-year-old woman and a 61-year-old woman, were pinned into a tight corner, Tranter said. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507abrk-carintobuilding0507-ON.html Republic: Man Tasered during barricade situation 05-07 news story by Amy Brooks SCOTTSDALE - A man making threats with a knife who barricaded himself in his parents' home Tuesday was taken to the hospital after police used a Taser on him. Police said they were responding to a family disturbance call about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when they found Mark Noppenberg, 45, of Scottsdale, barricaded inside the home in the 8700 block of East Oak Street, refusing to come out. Noppenberg was armed with a knife, police said. Noppenberg's 67-year-old father and another relative, a 64-year-old woman, were inside the home when police arrived. Both were evacuated without injuries. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507sr-barricade0508.html Tribune: Armed man robs gasoline station 05-07 news story by Mike Sakal A man wearing black clothing and a bandanna over his face took an undisclosed amount of cash after displaying a handgun while robbing a north Scottsdale gas station early Wednesday morning. The man, described as white and in his early 20s, entered the Superpumper station at 23609 N. Scottsdale Road, near Jomax Road, about 3:30 a.m. and demanded money from a clerk after displaying the gun, according to police. . . Republic: Rapper DMX allegedly drove 114 mph on 101 05-07 news story by Amy Brooks and Carol Sowers SCOTTSDALE - Earl Simmons, known internationally as rapper DMX, has been arrested on suspicion of racing on a highway and other charges after he was recorded by speed cameras on a Scottsdale highway at speeds up to 114 mph. Simmons was arrested Tuesday at his home near Cave Creek by Arizona Department of Public Safety officers on suspicion of reckless driving, two counts of endangerment and three counts of criminal speed and driving on a suspended license. Three photo-enforcement cameras on Loop 101 captured Simmon speeding in a 1966 Chevrolet Nova II at more than 100 mph near Shea Boulevard, Cactus Road and Hayden Road at about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 21. The posted speed limit is 65 mph. Simmons was booked into Scottsdale City Jail and was released on bond Wednesday. DPS officers said he was cooperative. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507dmx0508.html Sheriff says rapper DMX case will be resolved soon: http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=829820&r=1 Republic: Couple run from police, right into a patch of cactus 05-07 news story by Alex Whitlatch Two people in a suspected get-away car blew through red lights and roared off-road before bailing out of the disabled vehicle and running into the desert. Then things got worse. Police said Christopher Psomas, 38, and Ashley Strahan, 20, rolled through cholla cactus, covering themselves with needles. "I am so stupid," Psomas said through tears as hospital workers plucked spines from his body. "This is what I get for trying to run from the police.". . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507abrk-Cactus0507.html Republic: Arrested woman can't break bad check habit 05-07 news story by Alex Whitlatch Chandler police believe a woman arrested this week is responsible for writing 76 bad checks totaling more than $9,000. Police say Brandy Lynn Sammon would open a new account, write numerous bad checks against the account then close it within a week. During the investigation Sammon admitted to using the scheme at four different banks from May 2005 to February 2007, police said. Sammon was arrested by Mesa police Monday evening after officers discovered she had an outstanding warrant for previous cases in Chandler. According to Chandler police, those warrants included three counts of ID theft and three counts of using stolen credit cards. Police believe Sammon used the credit cards to pay for various extended-stay hotels in Maricopa County where she lived. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507abrk-forged0507.html Republic: Suspected Valley bank robber nabbed in Idaho 05-07 news story by Elias C. Arnold A 44-year-old man suspected of robbing a Goodyear bank is awaiting an extradition hearing after his arrest Wednesday in Idaho, Goodyear police said. Boise police and the FBI arrested Jeffery Lewis Groves at his daughter's home about 8 a.m. after Goodyear police provided them with the location, according to a police spokesman. He said they acted on a tip from the public. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507swv-tiparrest0507-ON.html Tribune: County OKs $1M for illegal-immigrant sweeps 05-07 story by Dennis Welch The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to give the sheriff’s office nearly $1 million to capture illegal immigrants, despite strong objections from small-business owners. Members of the Arizona Small Business Association asked the board to hold onto the money until it was sure Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s saturation patrols were not using racial profiling. “Kill the money until you know what’s going on,” said Annie Loyd, a small-business owner and an independent congressional candidate for Arizona’s District 1. “All we want is to know what’s going on.” She said she wants the sheriff to hand over all the data relating to his crackdown to make sure his deputies are not unfairly targeting Hispanics. . . http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/115799 Fountain Hills sweep yields similar migrant-arrest result: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508ftnhillsweep0508.html?source=nletter-news Republic: Security plan for light-rail line falls apart, Tempe, Mesa reject police staffing, instead will use private guards 05-07 news story by Casey Newton A plan to staff the Valley's 20-mile light-rail line with police personnel has fallen apart, with Tempe and Mesa deciding to use security guards instead. The move, which Tempe officials said would save money and make it easier to plan for special events, was blasted by Phoenix officials, who said it would lead to a less secure system. Phoenix will staff its portion of the line with police personnel. "For some reason, their leadership has decided it's more important to be frugal than to ensure the safety of our ridership," said Tom Simplot, chairman of Metro light rail and a Phoenix city councilman. Officials in Phoenix, which hoped to staff the entire line with its own police personnel, said putting multiple agencies in charge of fare inspections would lead to inconsistent enforcement. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/07/20080507railsecurity0508.html?source=nletter-news KTAR: Phoenix restaurant raising money today for fallen officers 05-07 news story by Jim Cross A downtown Phoenix restaurant is stepping up to help the families of fallen police officers and firefighters. Sticklers Restaurant, at Third Avenue and Washington, is donating 100 percent of today's sales to the 100 Club of Arizona as part of National Police Week. Last year, the event raised $7,000 for families. ``We're always dreaming for a little bit more, so we hope that people come out this year and give us some more support," said Sharon Knutson-Felix with the 100 Club. ``We want to reach that $10,000 mark at least." The 100 Club, which was started in 1968, has given more than $2 million over the years in financial support to fallen officers and firefighters. Knutson-Felix lost her husband, Doug, a Department of Public Safety officer, 10 years ago and was grateful for the 100 Club. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=829903&r=1 Republic: Former officer's visit brings inspiration to 11-year-old 05-08 news story by Eugene Scott An 11-year-old boy dealing with the daily battles of a life-limiting illness couldn't wait to meet a former Phoenix police officer who, like himself, has faced death. "I wanted to be able to hear how he survived and get to know him and be like him when I get older," said John Padilla, about his meeting Wednesday with Jason Schechterle. What amazed him was that the man known for his heroism called the boy his hero. "I've met a lot of kids who go through adversity and tough stuff. I've never met any with as big of a smile and good attitude as you," Schechterle told the boy. John, who has smooth muscle disorder, a rare disease that prevents the stomach, intestines, kidneys and bladder from functioning properly, read articles about Schechterle and wanted to meet him. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508hospital0508.html?source=nletter-news |
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| ARIZONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEWS | |
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KTAR: Arrest made in fatal shooting case 05-08 AP news story A Tucson man is facing a second-degree murder charge after being arrested in connection with the shooting death of his girlfriend, police said. Anthony Sylvia, 23, told police that he was at home on April 28 with his 22-year-old girlfriend, Danielle Mason, when he began playing with a handgun he recently purchased. He told detectives he had the gun on safety when he cocked the hammer and pointed it in Mason's direction but the gun discharged and the bullet struck her in the head. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=830806&r=1 KTAR: Deputies: Ash Fork man had teenage wife sleep with other men 05-08 AP news story Sheriff's deputies in Ash Fork say a 51-year-old man married a teenage girl and then invited other men to have sex with her while he took photographs. Donald Leacock has been indicted on 24 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Jerry Blair says deputies were called to a home in the town west of Williams in late February by a 14-year-old girl who wanted them to stand by while she moved out of Leacock's house. The girl told deputies that Leacock had fondled her and taken nude pictures and that he lived with his 16-year-old wife. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=830889&r=1 Republic: Sierra Vista man accused of lacing drink with bleach 05-08 AP news story SIERRA VISTA - A Sierra Vista man is accused of lacing a drink he purchased for his ex-girlfriend at a movie theater snack bar with bleach. Sierra Vista police were called Monday afternoon to the movie theater at the Mall at Sierra Vista after a moviegoer became sick after consuming a beverage. Police say employees located the drink cup and smelled a distinct odor of bleach in the cup. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508az-bleach08-on.html Republic: Guardsman accused of stealing border fence material 05-08 news story by Lindsey Collom A Wyoming Air National Guard member stands accused of selling scrap metal he reportedly stole from the Department of Homeland Security's border-fence project and using the profits to buy cowboy boots, a .45-caliber pistol and other items. Master Sgt. Robert Kelley, 48, will appear in federal court in Tucson today on a charge of theft of government property. Kelley was arrested Wednesday in Phoenix. He had been assigned to Operation Jump Start near Sonoita, where he worked on constructing a border fence between the U.S. and Mexico. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508guardsman-theft0507-ON.html KTAR: Nude hiker on Sedona trail faces indecent exposure charge 05-07 AP news story Authorities in Yavapai County are looking for additional victims of a nude hiker who allegedly told women he encountered that he was ``getting close to nature.'' Deputies were called to a trail in Sedona on April 28 by two women who had been confronted by the nude man. The man offered to take pictures of the women, said Dwight D'Evelyn, a spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Deputies eventually found John Edward Mosley, 61, of St. George, Utah after other citizens reported that he was hiding from deputies who were looking for him at a trailhead, D'Evelyn said Wednesday. He was arrested on misdemeanor indecent exposure charges and released after being given a court date. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=829789&r=1 Republic: Packs found along border loaded with pot 05-08 AP news story TUCSON- U.S. Border Patrol agents have discovered more than 1,300 pounds of marijuana near the San Miguel Gate on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. Two agents and an agency dog were following the foot prints of a group of illegal immigrants Tuesday about four miles outside of the village of San Miguel when they came upon 21 burlap packs, said Mike Scioli, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508az-marijuana08-on.html KTAR: Town Hall scheduled in St. George for polygamists 05-08 news story by Jim Cross Attorneys General Terry Goddard of Arizona and Mark Shurtleff of Utah will hold a town hall meeting in St. George, Utah, tonight to discuss relationships between law enforcement and the polygamist border communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. Goddard said the forum's goal is ``to open up communication, break down barriers." Former polygamist John Llewelyn says that's a smokescreen. ``When they talk about building bridges and breaking down barriers, that's only a metaphor for tolerance," Llewelyn says. ``They want society in general to tolerate this type of lifestyle. They just have too much dirty landry, dirty baggage for me to tolerate it, especially after having been a part of it for a while. That's why I got out." The Utah meeting comes weeks after Texas authorities raided a polygamist compound near Eldorado, Texas, and took custody of more than 400 children on grounds of possible abuse. . . http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=827842&r=1 Republic: Inmate fights send 6 in Douglas to hospital 05-08 AP news story DOUGLAS, VISTA- Six prisoners were airlifted for medical treatment after being injured in fights at the state prison in Douglas. Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux said the injuries occurred Wednesday morning after a few small fights broke out in the prison's Mohave Unit. . . http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/08/20080508az-prisonfights08-on.html |
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