Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in December that a Phoenix city employee's husband was issued a ticket for off-roading in a restricted area and she threw out the 'race card' at first - but later retracted it.
A few months ago, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon accused Sheriff Joe Arpaio of racial profiling in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
In the letter, the mayor claimed that race was behind a stop and citation against a Hispanic city employee. After an investigation, Sheriff Arpaio found Gordon's claim to be false.
Arpaio called into the J.D. Hayworth show, on KFYI AM550, and said that Mayor Gordon didn't have his facts straight. During the investigation, the city employee apologized and said she wasn't racially profiled.
Earlier this week in Washington, Gordon asked the national news media to look closely at Arpaio's methods for his "crime suppression sweeps" that target illegal immigrants. At a news conference on Wednesday, Gordon repeated his request to Arpaio to cooperate with local police agencies when he does the sweeps. Gordon also insisted that it's not a personal feud with Arpaio, but rather a feeling that Arpaio is not following professional police procedures.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
"Operation Scheduled Departure"
Phoenix Joins "Operation Scheduled Departure"
The Bush administration is inviting people who have ignored orders to leave the country to surrender at immigration offices and leave voluntarily, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said Wednesday.
The Bush administration is inviting people who have ignored orders to leave the country to surrender at immigration offices and leave voluntarily, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said Wednesday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is launching "Operation Scheduled Departure" on Aug. 5 in the cities of Santa Ana, Calif.; San Diego; Phoenix; Chicago and Charlotte, N.C., said spokeswoman Cori Bassett. The program will end Aug. 22.
People who have been ordered to leave the country but remain in the U.S. and have not committed a crime can participate, Bassett said.
"Those folks will be able to walk into an ICE office and say I'm here and I want to go home," Bassett said. They will not be jailed as most people are who are arrested because they are believed to be in the country illegally, she said. They will not be required to wear tracking devices, she said.
Jim Hayes, the acting ICE detention and removal director, said some 572,000 people in the country have final deportation orders but have not committed a crime.
Bassett said the people who take advantage of the program will get up to 90 days to pull together money to pay for family members to return home with them, attend to older parents or take care of any other arrangements.
Hayes said people with deportation orders who have previously surrendered to ICE usually need a month to 40 days to square away family affairs.
ICE Director Julie Myers first announced the program on an Univision Sunday news program, but did not provide full details.
Myers' comments were translated into Spanish. In the translated interview on the Univision Web site, she said the program would be an organized way for people to self deport, especially if immigrants fear ICE might come to their home or show up at their workplace.
She said people could show up to ICE offices with passports and documents.
Hayes said the idea came from advocates who have said people would show up if given the chance to surrender. "We hope the advocacy groups back up what they told us," he said.
But the idea was quickly criticized. Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigration advocacy group America's Voice, said it was not a serious proposal, reminiscent of a "Saturday Night Live" sketch.
"The idea that millions of people are going to knock on the government's door and ask to be deported is pure fantasy. This is not a solution; this is mass deportation on the cheap, and it just won't work."
Hayes said ICE has 104 "fugitive alien" teams that are highly successful.
ICE has been conducting work and home raids to track down people it believes are in the country illegally. Those raids have drawn praise from anti-immigration backers and criticism from immigration advocates.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promised to step up immigration enforcement after Congress failed to pass an immigration reform bill last year.
Hayes denied that the voluntary departure program was designed to increase the numbers of immigrants removed from the country or as a political move in the midst of the presidential election where immigration remains a volatile issue.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus separately called on President Bush to end the ICE raids after hearing stories from children and families in Postville, Iowa, where the agency carried out one of the largest raids in U.S. history at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plan.
"We need to end these raids. These raids do absolutely no good," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus planned to meet Thursday to come up with strategies on how to respond to the Iowa raid.
"It's not ICE's job to write the immigration laws," said Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., who chairs the caucus.
Also this week, New Life Covenant and others will gather a truckload of toiletries, disposable diapers and food. The group will drive the truck to Postville, pitch tents in the town Friday and distribute its goods to families of the detained immigrants, Gutierrez said.
Associated Press Writer Anabelle Garay in Dallas contributed to this report.
On the Net: Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://www.ice.gov
One member of Congress wants police to stop arresting responsible marijuana smokers
As you can imagine law enforcement does not necessarily think that is such a good idea.
We have heard a lot about medical marijuana usage and whether or not it should be legal, but now Congress is talking about marijuana use in general and how the United States should stop arresting responsible users.
One Phoenix resident tells 3TV, “As long as you use it in moderation I don’t see how it’s harmful.” That was the feeling on the streets of Tempe and it turns out some members of Congress could not agree more.
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts is proposing House Bill 5843 which would make it legal for Americans to possess fewer than 100 grams of marijuana. It is a bill with bi-partisan support.
NORML, or the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws says marijuana should be treated no differently than alcohol.
According to NORML, some 830,000 Americans were arrested last year, 88% of those for personal marijuana use. A marijuana smoker is arrested every 38 seconds. Some of them in states where medical marijuana use is legal.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says people charged with simple possession rarely go to jail and vehemently opposes any legalization of marijuana, for medical purposes or otherwise. And while this bill, if passed, would change federal law, it would not change state law.
Frank clarifies that, “If a state wants to use it’s legal resources to do this, a state is free to do so.”
Arizona does. Here the penalty for possession of pot is a misdemeanor, but depending on the amount, could be considered a felony.
In the meantime the sponsors of this house bill are hoping for hearings on the issue early next year.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Strange-looking fish caught in Tempe lake
Jose Chavez proudly holds his trophy catch.I see fish like this on the Discovery Channel," he said.
But certainly not at Kiwanis Lake in Tempe.
Jose and his father fish there frequently. The night they caught what appears to be an alligator gar they had tried out a new kind of bait -- real chicken liver.
Little did they know what the new bait would attract.
"His pole was bending," Jose said. "His snout barely came out and I said, 'Oh shoot!'"
They knew right away it wasn't the usual catfish catch.
"Cuz I was about to put my hand in there and go get it and he said, 'No! Look at the teeth on that!'"
The gar kept snapping at them with razor sharp teeth so Jose decided to leave the hook in the gar's mouth.
"Weird looking. Looked like a snake. My dad thought it was a snake. He said, 'Damn, looks like a snake mixed with an alligator.'"
The odd catch is attracting a lot of attention -- and Arizona Game and Fish officials are interested.
Gars are prohibited in Arizona. They're not even allowed in tanks at home.
They're considered voracious predators.
Jose's father plans to bring the gar to Fish and Game officials who hope this is the only gar fishermen will bring in from the Tempe lake.
50 people taken into custody at a West Phoenix drop house
More drop house news!
Phoenix Police spent most of the morning on the scene of an apparent drop house in West Phoenix Tuesday morning. Dozens of suspected illegals are now in custody.
At least 50 people, which 15 to 20 of them were women and children, were found inside the home at 56th and Virginia avenues.
A neighbor who noticed that something wasn't right called 911. That neighbor reportedly saw a van dropping people off and spotted at least one person running through the neighborhood. That person turned out to be a suspected coyote.
A police spokesman on the scene said officers have taken dozens of illegal immigrants into custody, as well as the people responsible for bringing them into the country. Those people were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
It's not clear how long the people had been living in the house, but the conditions inside were not good.
Phoenix Police spent most of the morning on the scene of an apparent drop house in West Phoenix Tuesday morning. Dozens of suspected illegals are now in custody.
At least 50 people, which 15 to 20 of them were women and children, were found inside the home at 56th and Virginia avenues.
A neighbor who noticed that something wasn't right called 911. That neighbor reportedly saw a van dropping people off and spotted at least one person running through the neighborhood. That person turned out to be a suspected coyote.
A police spokesman on the scene said officers have taken dozens of illegal immigrants into custody, as well as the people responsible for bringing them into the country. Those people were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
It's not clear how long the people had been living in the house, but the conditions inside were not good.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Police Arrest Serial Sex Predator Suspect
Robert Jesse Payan, 28, was arrested in connection to several attempted sexual assaults on young girls.
Phoenix police have made an arrest in connection with a string of sexual attacks or attempted sexual attacks on girls in west-central Phoenix.
Phoenix police have made an arrest in connection with a string of sexual attacks or attempted sexual attacks on girls in west-central Phoenix.
The 28-year-old suspect, Robert Jesse Payan, had been under surveillance since Wednesday and was taken into custody Sunday night at his central Phoenix apartment complex.
Police had been looking for a suspect in connection with 13 attacks or attempted attacks on girls since January, but Payan is being held at this time in only three of the cases. (See pictured police sketches)
The attacks, targeting girls 7 to 17, began in January.
Police had said earlier that nine of the girls had been sexually abused.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Additional charges filed in serial shooters case
UPDATE JULY 24:
Accused serial killer Dale Hausner pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and aggravated assault charges from a May 2006 stabbing in west Phoenix.
UPDATE JULY 17:
The following UPDATE was sent by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office:
County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that brothers Dale Hausner and Jeffrey Hausner have been indicted on new charges. The July 16, 2008, indictment charges both defendants with attempted first-degree murder, a class two dangerous felony, and aggravated assault, a class three dangerous felony.
The charges are related to the May 17, 2006, stabbing of a man near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix. The victim survived the attack.
In March 2007, Jeffrey Hausner pleaded guilty to a previous aggravated assault charge and was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison on May 11, 2007. That charge came as a result of an April 14, 2006, knife assault on a victim who had asked the defendant for change outside a Phoenix store. Both attacks are connected to the alleged Serial Shooters crime spree by the Phoenix Police Department. Dale Hausner is currently awaiting trial on multiple murder charges related to those events.
“We will continue to seek justice for all victims involved in this crime spree,” said Thomas. “This office will continue to support the efforts of law enforcement investigators working to resolve all crimes allegedly committed by these defendants.”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney's office have possibly linked another attempted homicide to the Serial Shooters series of homicides, attempted homicides, aggravated assaults and cruelty to animals.
Early on the morning of May 17, 2006, Timothy Davenport was stabbed repeatedly in the back and left in a parking lot near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road.
Phoenix police said they have added this case to the list of cases in the series and have identified Jeffrey Hausner, Dale Hausner's brother, as the suspect.
According to police investigators received information that has given them probably cause to submit attempted murder charges related to this incident against Jeffrey Hausner.
Investigators also believe that Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman were with Jeff during the stabbing.
The Maricopa County Attorney's office will determine if additional charges will be filed against those men in this case.
Accused serial killer Dale Hausner pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and aggravated assault charges from a May 2006 stabbing in west Phoenix.
UPDATE JULY 17:
The following UPDATE was sent by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office:
County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that brothers Dale Hausner and Jeffrey Hausner have been indicted on new charges. The July 16, 2008, indictment charges both defendants with attempted first-degree murder, a class two dangerous felony, and aggravated assault, a class three dangerous felony.
The charges are related to the May 17, 2006, stabbing of a man near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix. The victim survived the attack.
In March 2007, Jeffrey Hausner pleaded guilty to a previous aggravated assault charge and was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison on May 11, 2007. That charge came as a result of an April 14, 2006, knife assault on a victim who had asked the defendant for change outside a Phoenix store. Both attacks are connected to the alleged Serial Shooters crime spree by the Phoenix Police Department. Dale Hausner is currently awaiting trial on multiple murder charges related to those events.
“We will continue to seek justice for all victims involved in this crime spree,” said Thomas. “This office will continue to support the efforts of law enforcement investigators working to resolve all crimes allegedly committed by these defendants.”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney's office have possibly linked another attempted homicide to the Serial Shooters series of homicides, attempted homicides, aggravated assaults and cruelty to animals.
Early on the morning of May 17, 2006, Timothy Davenport was stabbed repeatedly in the back and left in a parking lot near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road.
Phoenix police said they have added this case to the list of cases in the series and have identified Jeffrey Hausner, Dale Hausner's brother, as the suspect.
According to police investigators received information that has given them probably cause to submit attempted murder charges related to this incident against Jeffrey Hausner.
Investigators also believe that Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman were with Jeff during the stabbing.
The Maricopa County Attorney's office will determine if additional charges will be filed against those men in this case.
Arizona base to host flying training exercises
The 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base will participate in flying training exercises with a French Air Force unit that flies Rafale aircraft.
The Rafale is a twin-engine combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short-range and long-range missions including ground and sea attack, air defense and air superiority and reconnaissance.
The exercises are scheduled for July 28-Aug. 8 and Luke will host more than 100 French military personnel and four Rafale aircraft.
Col. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander, says it's the first time that French Air Force Rafale aircraft have been deployed to the U.S. and "working together with France in this capacity is invaluable to enhancing and sharing tactical and operational expertise."
The Rafale is a twin-engine combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short-range and long-range missions including ground and sea attack, air defense and air superiority and reconnaissance.
The exercises are scheduled for July 28-Aug. 8 and Luke will host more than 100 French military personnel and four Rafale aircraft.
Col. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander, says it's the first time that French Air Force Rafale aircraft have been deployed to the U.S. and "working together with France in this capacity is invaluable to enhancing and sharing tactical and operational expertise."
Foreclosure trend shifts closer into Phoenix metro area
The highest rates of foreclosures in metropolitan Phoenix have moved from the farthest flung suburbs to neighborhoods closer into the area, particularly some in south, west and central Phoenix.
That's according to an Arizona newspaper's analysis of real-estate data from the Information Market.
When foreclosures started to climb last summer, the highest rates of home defaults were found in farthest flung areas where buyers had gone to get the most house for their buck.
Although some of the metro area's fringes such as Surprise, Anthem and Buckeye continue to have high foreclosure rates, the problem has moved inward.
Foreclosures across metro Phoenix number 16,647 for the first half of the year compared with 9,966 during all of 2007 and 1,070 in 2006.
That's according to an Arizona newspaper's analysis of real-estate data from the Information Market.
When foreclosures started to climb last summer, the highest rates of home defaults were found in farthest flung areas where buyers had gone to get the most house for their buck.
Although some of the metro area's fringes such as Surprise, Anthem and Buckeye continue to have high foreclosure rates, the problem has moved inward.
Foreclosures across metro Phoenix number 16,647 for the first half of the year compared with 9,966 during all of 2007 and 1,070 in 2006.
Stabbing Suspect Said God Told Her To Kill Neighbor
Jill Manahan killed her 83-year-old neighbor after being released from a psychiatric care facility.
Court documents show that a woman arrested in the stabbing death of a neighbor told Scottsdale police that God told her to do it.
A probable cause statement released by a court Monday says Jill Fraley Manahan admitted to the killing during an interview with police.
According to the document, Manahan told authorities that she had argued with her 83-year-old neighbor on Sunday then stabbed her in he chest and back.
Manahan was arrested for investigation on one count each of murder and burglary.
There was no immediate response Monday to an Associated Press request made through jail authorities to interview Manahan.
Court documents show that a woman arrested in the stabbing death of a neighbor told Scottsdale police that God told her to do it.
A probable cause statement released by a court Monday says Jill Fraley Manahan admitted to the killing during an interview with police.
According to the document, Manahan told authorities that she had argued with her 83-year-old neighbor on Sunday then stabbed her in he chest and back.
Manahan was arrested for investigation on one count each of murder and burglary.
There was no immediate response Monday to an Associated Press request made through jail authorities to interview Manahan.
Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted 12 year old girl in Mesa, Arizona
The Mesa Police Department is requesting the public assistance in locating a male who sexually assaulted a 12 year-old girl in Mesa. On Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at approximately 5:00 p.m. the victim was at her residence of 118 N. Extension when she heard a knock at the front door. The victim opened the door and saw a male standing at the door. The male then forced his way into the residence, pushed the victim down to the couch and sexually assaulted her.
A short time later, the male left the residence. The victim did not report the incident to anyone until yesterday, July 23rd in fear the male suspect would return. When the victim told her family members about the incident, the police department was immediately notified and an active investigation is currently on going.
The following description of the male suspect has been provided to police: A Hispanic male appearing to be in his 30's, 5'6" to 5'8" inches tall, thin build, thin moustache, brown eyes, with short "messy style" black hair. He was wearing a tan colored T-shirt, black jeans and work style boots. Additionally, the male was wearing a gold small hoop earring in the ear and has two small moles below the right side of his eye.
Anyone with information is urged to call Mesa Police at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
9 held hostage in West Valley drop house
On July 22nd at approximately 1:10 p.m. Phoenix Police Officers were contacted by a Hispanic male near 111th Lane and Campbell saying he had been held against his will at gun point and was beaten at a nearby drop house located at 4441 N. 111th Lane.
He told Officers there were additional victims being held. The man brought officers to a residence where the window screen had been broken out. Officers summoned IIMPACT Detectives.
Inside the house, detectives found 9 suspected UDA’s (undocumented aliens), 8 males and 1 female. Two suspected human smugglers had fled before detectives arrived.
The victims told investigators they were being held for ransom. The smugglers were demanding $3,200 a piece to secure their freedom. The UDA’s also said they had crossed the border into Arizona on July 12th and were taken to the house where they have been held ever since.
IIMPACT (Illegal Immigration Prevention & Apprehension Co-op Team) was formed almost a year ago. It is a multi-agency project managed by GIITEM of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) that is designed to address rising crime associated with illegal immigration. IIMPACT is comprised of personnel from DPS, Phoenix Police, ICE and the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force (AFIT). As the name implies, local, state and federal police agencies combine forces to impact international human smuggling organizations operating in Arizona.
He told Officers there were additional victims being held. The man brought officers to a residence where the window screen had been broken out. Officers summoned IIMPACT Detectives.
Inside the house, detectives found 9 suspected UDA’s (undocumented aliens), 8 males and 1 female. Two suspected human smugglers had fled before detectives arrived.
The victims told investigators they were being held for ransom. The smugglers were demanding $3,200 a piece to secure their freedom. The UDA’s also said they had crossed the border into Arizona on July 12th and were taken to the house where they have been held ever since.
IIMPACT (Illegal Immigration Prevention & Apprehension Co-op Team) was formed almost a year ago. It is a multi-agency project managed by GIITEM of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) that is designed to address rising crime associated with illegal immigration. IIMPACT is comprised of personnel from DPS, Phoenix Police, ICE and the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force (AFIT). As the name implies, local, state and federal police agencies combine forces to impact international human smuggling organizations operating in Arizona.
South Mountain Community College shooting : The shooter Rodney Smith
Phoenix Police reported to South Mountain Community College for a shooting around 4 p.m. Thursday.
Police say there were three victims who were shot at the community college, located near 24th Avenue and Baseline Road.
An ongoing altercation between two males at the community college was re-ignited in a computer lab on the second floor of the Technical Services building.
The two males began fighting when one of the men yelled, "Do something!" to the other.
The other male pulled out a gun and started shooting the victim. Some of the gunshots went past the victim and hit two innocents that were behind him. One of the innocents was a 20-year-old woman.
Phoenix Police confirmed that a 19-year-old man and a 20-year old woman were transported to the hospital in critical condition.
A third victim, a 17 year-old boy was in stable condition. It is not known for sure which of the males was involved in the altercation with the shooter.
Police arrested the suspect, 22 year old Rodney Smith, in the area of 23 avenue and Southern. Police also arrested several members of Smith's family after they allegedly interfered with police.
The college was put into a brief lock down right after the shooting. An email was sent to all faculty telling them to remain in their offices and lock the door. Classes have been cancelled for the evening.
According to witnesses there were between 15 and 30 other people inside the computer lab at the time of the shooting.
Police have confirmed that the shooting suspect is not a student at South Mountain Community College.
First West Nile death of 2008 in Maricopa County
The following is a press release from the Arizona Department of Public Health Services:
The Arizona Department of Health Services Thursday reported the state’s first death from West Nile Virus in 2008. Tests from the Arizona State Health Laboratory indicated that a woman in her ‘80s from Maricopa County died from West Nile Virus encephalitis this month.
“The recent monsoon activity has kick started the West Nile Virus season in Arizona,” said Craig Levy, manager of the state’s Vector-Borne Disease program. “This tragic death is a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself against mosquito bites.”
“Ridding your home of standing water translates to ridding your property of mosquitoes,” said Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County Public Health. “This small effort could make all the difference in protecting a loved one from West Nile virus.”
Other indicators of increased West Nile activity include West Nile positive mosquito pools in Maricopa, Pinal and Yuma counties. In addition, West Nile positive “sentinel chickens” have been identified in Cochise, Graham, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Greenlee and Pima counties.
Since its first arrival in Arizona in 2003, more than 750 residents have been infected with the disease. Forty-two deaths have been attributed to West Nile in the state, including seven last year.
“Be prepared,” Levy urged. “Use insect repellent, and wear protective clothing, especially between dusk and dawn and in areas where mosquitoes are active. One of the most important things we can do is to be sure we are not raising mosquitoes in our pools, ponds and birdbaths”
The state has established a web site, www.westnileaz.com, and a toll-free number, 1-800-314-9243, (Metro Phoenix: 602-364-4500), to provide additional information.
West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.
The best way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as:
Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers.
Change water in flower vases, birdbaths, planters and animal watering pans at least twice a week. Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently.
Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when going outside at night by using insect repellent.
Wear lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs during dawn or dusk, or in areas where mosquitoes are active.
The Arizona Department of Health Services Thursday reported the state’s first death from West Nile Virus in 2008. Tests from the Arizona State Health Laboratory indicated that a woman in her ‘80s from Maricopa County died from West Nile Virus encephalitis this month.
“The recent monsoon activity has kick started the West Nile Virus season in Arizona,” said Craig Levy, manager of the state’s Vector-Borne Disease program. “This tragic death is a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself against mosquito bites.”
“Ridding your home of standing water translates to ridding your property of mosquitoes,” said Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa County Public Health. “This small effort could make all the difference in protecting a loved one from West Nile virus.”
Other indicators of increased West Nile activity include West Nile positive mosquito pools in Maricopa, Pinal and Yuma counties. In addition, West Nile positive “sentinel chickens” have been identified in Cochise, Graham, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Greenlee and Pima counties.
Since its first arrival in Arizona in 2003, more than 750 residents have been infected with the disease. Forty-two deaths have been attributed to West Nile in the state, including seven last year.
“Be prepared,” Levy urged. “Use insect repellent, and wear protective clothing, especially between dusk and dawn and in areas where mosquitoes are active. One of the most important things we can do is to be sure we are not raising mosquitoes in our pools, ponds and birdbaths”
The state has established a web site, www.westnileaz.com, and a toll-free number, 1-800-314-9243, (Metro Phoenix: 602-364-4500), to provide additional information.
West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.
The best way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as:
Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers.
Change water in flower vases, birdbaths, planters and animal watering pans at least twice a week. Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently.
Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when going outside at night by using insect repellent.
Wear lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs during dawn or dusk, or in areas where mosquitoes are active.
Golfers struck by lightning on 17th hole of Flagstaff course
Two golfers were struck by lightning Tuesday evening while playing at the Aspen Hills Golf Course.
The incident occurred as the golfers were on the 17th hole sitting in their golf cart. When emergency personnel arrived they found the two men conscious but disoriented.
Neither was able to recall what had happened. A nearby pine tree had exploded from being hit by lightning and a metal water line had been busted open by the strike.
The golfers' clubs were broken and strewn around the area where the golf cart was. One of the men had obvious lightning entry and exit wounds. The other had burnt hair, burnt clothing, and one of his shoes had been blown apart.
Surprisingly neither man had "cardiac dysrhythmia" or electrical irregularities in their heart beat -- a common symptom of lightning-caused death.
Both men were transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment.
The incident occurred as the golfers were on the 17th hole sitting in their golf cart. When emergency personnel arrived they found the two men conscious but disoriented.
Neither was able to recall what had happened. A nearby pine tree had exploded from being hit by lightning and a metal water line had been busted open by the strike.
The golfers' clubs were broken and strewn around the area where the golf cart was. One of the men had obvious lightning entry and exit wounds. The other had burnt hair, burnt clothing, and one of his shoes had been blown apart.
Surprisingly neither man had "cardiac dysrhythmia" or electrical irregularities in their heart beat -- a common symptom of lightning-caused death.
Both men were transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment.
Justin Christoffers posted sale of stolen weapons on Myspace gets arrested
On July 23, 2008, at 7:45 p.m., Officers from the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested 20-year-old Justin Christoffers at his mother’s residence in Ahwatukee (4101 E. La Puente). Christoffers was wanted for two counts of misconduct involving weapons, theft and burglary out of Maricopa County Superior Court.
Christoffers was using My Space to advertise the sale of stolen weapons. Christoffers was also bragging about committing burglaries in his neighborhood. Phoenix Police believe Christoffers was a suspect in numerous burglaries in the area and had previously arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Christoffers was trying to jump the back wall of the house.
Christoffers faces four warrants and revocation of his intensive probation. Christoffers is a convicted felon and can not be in possession of any firearms. He also may face charges for being in possession of firearms.
On May 12, 2008, Governor Janet Napolitano directed the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional statewide plan to identify and arrest individuals with outstanding felony warrants. In response, DPS has created VCAT- the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. Since the middle of May, VCAT efforts have resulted in the arrest of more than 123 fugitives.
“This is truly excellent work by VCAT. Taking dangerous offenders off the streets is the goal. By combining resources, including intelligence gathering resources and manpower, VCAT is working everyday to get these fugitives behind bars and to make neighborhoods safe,” said Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Bradley Allen Trotter arrested for photographing up girl's skirt at Wal-Mart
Bradley Allen Trotter:A Chandler man was arrested at a Valley Wal-Mart after he allegedly took a picture of a 14-year-old under her skirt.
Bradley Allen Trotter, 45, was arrested Wednesday at the Wal-Mart located at 2501 S. Market St. in Gilbert.
Police say Trotter was caught taking a picture of the teen. The girl's mother followed Trotter out of the store and told police and store security of the incident.
Responding officers were directed to Trotter. They conducted a traffic stop in another area of the shopping center parking lot and took Trotter into custody without incident.
Gilbert police say that there may be additional victims.
Police say Trotter was at the Wal-Mart at 4505 E. McKellips in Mesa Wednesday at 11 a.m., a Tolleson Wal-Mart Tuesday at 10:45 a.m., and a Tolleson Target Tuesday at 11:38 a.m.
Anyone who has witnessed or may have been victimized by Trotter is asked to contact the Gilbert Police Department at 480-403-6500.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Patrick Frame Arrested for Indecent Exposure on City Bus
Patrick Frame is accused of masturbating in front of two children under age 10.Phoenix police have arrested a man who they say was captured on video masturbating as he rode a Valley Metro bus on the Fourth of July. It happened about 8:30 pm as the bus traveled along Cactus Rd. near 26th St.
Detectives say 46-year-old Patrick Frame exposed himself and was masturbating on the bus in front of a 9-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy. Police say he was doing it in plain sight of not only the children, but also several adults on the bus, including the children's mother. Adults who saw what was going on stopped the man and tried to hold him for police, but he got away before officers arrived.
Using the video captured by the bus' cameras, including a conversation that he had on the bus, as well as witness statements, detectives concluded the man may live in the area of Paradise Valley Mall. On the morning of July 16, transit officers went to the "transit center" outside the mall to see if they could find him. When they arrived, officers immediately saw a man sitting on a bench waiting for a bus who resembled the man in the video.
As they got closer, the officers noted the man was wearing the same distinctive t-shirt as the suspect in the video, and concluded he was the man they were seeking. As he started boarding a bus, they approached him and asked him if they could talk to him. They took him to police headquarters, where he was interviewed and subsequently arrested.
Frame was booked for two felony counts of indecent exposure, two felony counts of public sexual indecency, as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and public sexual indecency.
Police pointed out that criminal activity on buses is very rare, and that 1 to 2 percent of the riders are likely responsible for 90 percent of the crime. Detectives added that they don't have any reason to believe that Frame may have done the same thing on any other occasions, but they will be reviewing police reports and sharing the information with other police agencies in the Valley.
County Attorney Thomas Launching Effort Against Drop Houses
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio are encouraging the public to report any suspicious activity.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is launching a new public safety effort to combat drop houses and the crime that goes with them.
The initiative comes in the wake of a recent violent attack on a Phoenix man, where he was shot to death by two illegals on June 22.
"Such violent tactics are commonly used by members of Mexican drug cartels that have previously been foreign to the United States," said Thomas.
The public service announcements that will air on TV and radio beginning next week, give information on how to report drop house activity to authorities.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is launching a new public safety effort to combat drop houses and the crime that goes with them.
The initiative comes in the wake of a recent violent attack on a Phoenix man, where he was shot to death by two illegals on June 22.
"Such violent tactics are commonly used by members of Mexican drug cartels that have previously been foreign to the United States," said Thomas.
The public service announcements that will air on TV and radio beginning next week, give information on how to report drop house activity to authorities.
Rapper DMX aressted again after being Busted for ID Theft
DMX, The rapper, rap sheet gets longer after the musician actor was arrested at Metro Center Mall in north Phoenix for stealing someone's identity.
Sheriff's Office: Man Dead in Accidental Shooting
A family visiting from L.A. was having target practice when the man was shot in the head.
A man is dead after an apparent accidental shooting in the desert near the White Tank Mountains.
A family visiting from L.A. was having target practice when the man was shot in the head.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said the victim, who was about 40 years-old, died as a result of his injuries.
There was also a 14-year-old boy present.
Buckeye police and the Sheriff's Office are investigating to figure out what exactly happened.
A man is dead after an apparent accidental shooting in the desert near the White Tank Mountains.
A family visiting from L.A. was having target practice when the man was shot in the head.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said the victim, who was about 40 years-old, died as a result of his injuries.
There was also a 14-year-old boy present.
Buckeye police and the Sheriff's Office are investigating to figure out what exactly happened.
4,200 marijuana plants found growing in Coconino National Forest
The following is a press release from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office:On Wednesday July 16, 2008 at approximately 5:00 am local, state and federal police officers raided a clandestine marijuana grow located in Coconino National Forest in a remote area at the bottom of Woods Canyon resulting in the seizure of approximately 4,200 plants.
On July 7, 2008 two outdoor enthusiasts who were hiking in a remote and rugged area at the bottom of Woods Canyon located South of Schnebly Hill Road and west of Interstate Highway 17 in the Coconino National Forest, when they discovered what they believed to be a large marijuana farm. The two concerned citizens reported their suspicions to members of the Northern Arizona Street Crimes Task Force (Metro). Metro agents responded to the scene and observed the described area from the top of the rim. Agents did not enter the canyon fearing they may alert suspects who were in the area and tending to the plants. With the use of spotting scopes and other vision enhancing equipment, taskforce members were able to confirm the information provided by the two hikers.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office, the United States Forest Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Flagstaff Police Department formed a joint investigative task force. Task force members were positioned in strategic locations that allowed them to conduct surveillance of the suspected marijuana field and surrounding area. During the investigations detectives and agents observed as many as five male individuals who appeared to be caring for the plants.
The investigation culminated with the formation of a joint multi disciplinary taskforce intended to monitor suspect activity, prevent evidence destruction and apprehend any suspects who were associated with this illegal marijuana cultivation operation. On July 16, 2008 taskforce members descended the canyon and secured the area. Due to the thick vegetation, the vast area involved and the steep terrain, five suspects who were believed to be in the area were able to elude apprehension. Officers secured approximately 4,200 marijuana plants and numerous other items that are associated with an illegal cultivation operation.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Former ASU coach Snyder has cancer
Former Arizona State football coach Bruce Snyder says he has cancer.
Snyder issued a statement through the university's sports information office confirming that he has cancer, though he wasn't specific about the kind or severity.
In the statement, the 68-year-old former coach said he appreciates the public support, but he also asked for privacy.
Snyder, the 1996 NCAA coach of the year, went 58-47 in nine seasons for the Sun Devils. He was dismissed after the 2000 season despite getting to the Aloha Bowl.
Snyder previously coached at California and Utah State.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Sweeps Targeted in Lawsuit
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration and crime sweeps are being targeted in a lawsuit that alleges his officers have racially profiled Hispanics.
Civil groups backing the lawsuit say in court papers filed Wednesday that Arpaio's officers have used unfounded traffic stops and baseless arrests to target Hispanics for inquiries about their immigration status.
Arpaio defends the patrols as crime suppression efforts and says his deputies don't racially profile Hispanics.
His crackdowns in Phoenix, Guadalupe, Mesa and other cities have drawn complaints of racial profiling.
The sweep allegations were added to a lawsuit that already alleged a Mexican man in the country legally was unnecessarily detained by a deputy investigating his immigration status.
Civil groups backing the lawsuit say in court papers filed Wednesday that Arpaio's officers have used unfounded traffic stops and baseless arrests to target Hispanics for inquiries about their immigration status.
Arpaio defends the patrols as crime suppression efforts and says his deputies don't racially profile Hispanics.
His crackdowns in Phoenix, Guadalupe, Mesa and other cities have drawn complaints of racial profiling.
The sweep allegations were added to a lawsuit that already alleged a Mexican man in the country legally was unnecessarily detained by a deputy investigating his immigration status.
Illegal Immigration Stats to Date
Under the State law:
Under the Federal law ICE “Holds” |
Oil prices drop lower, how about gas prices?
One Phoenix resident explains it: "I think it's a farce."
Explaining why crude oil prices are down and gasoline prices are up is tough to do while people are filling up.
With the average price state wide now resting at $4.07/gal - that's better than previous weeks but still a dollar more than Arizonans paid this same time last year.
Experts say hoping that the ten dollar drop in crude oil will make a difference is wishful thinking.
"When oil prices go down,we need to determine, is this a trend of just one day? We could see oil prices spike again."
So gas stations are slow to react.
"Gasolline in many instance is a loss leader for most stations."
Retailers make about 4 cents a gallon. Some weeks they say they are actually losing money.
Even offering a cash incentive - an 8 cent saving per gallon - just to save on credit card transaction fees.
"They come in, pay cash, and we make money in the store."
The mini mart helping some gas stations survive tough times.
"Customer happy, we're happy everyone is happy. But right now no one is happy."
But we'll all be happy when prices drop - that is... If they drop.
Explaining why crude oil prices are down and gasoline prices are up is tough to do while people are filling up.
With the average price state wide now resting at $4.07/gal - that's better than previous weeks but still a dollar more than Arizonans paid this same time last year.
Experts say hoping that the ten dollar drop in crude oil will make a difference is wishful thinking.
"When oil prices go down,we need to determine, is this a trend of just one day? We could see oil prices spike again."
So gas stations are slow to react.
"Gasolline in many instance is a loss leader for most stations."
Retailers make about 4 cents a gallon. Some weeks they say they are actually losing money.
Even offering a cash incentive - an 8 cent saving per gallon - just to save on credit card transaction fees.
"They come in, pay cash, and we make money in the store."
The mini mart helping some gas stations survive tough times.
"Customer happy, we're happy everyone is happy. But right now no one is happy."
But we'll all be happy when prices drop - that is... If they drop.
Arizona school district looks at four-day school week
CASA GRANDE -- Four-day work weeks are becoming more and more popular because of sky-high gas prices, and now one Arizona school district is considering it.Casa Grande Union High School Disrict is considering implementing a four-day school week, which could save the district up to about $640,000 per year. Most of that savings comes from the cost of fuel for the buses.
A decision on the idea was supposed to be made Tuesday night, but the board postponed that so they can carefully consider all the pros and cons.
According to research, a four-day week decreases the student drop-out rate, decreases absenteeism for both students and teachers, decreases disciplinary infractions and increases school morale.
"If the reason is substantial and it is for money and the rest of it looks like its do-able then that is the reason that I would recommend it," said Nancy Pifer, the superintendent of the Casa Grande Union High School District. "If you have academic achievement in a certain number of minutes of instruction per week and you still do that same number of minutes of instruction per week, I do not see how it could be a negative."
The four-day week could only add about 80 minutes to each school day.
Casa Grande Union High School District governs Casa Grande Union High School, Casa Verde High School, Desert Winds High School and Vista Grande High School.
Officer falls asleep at wheel, hits two cars
PHOENIX -- An officer coming off shift apparently fell asleep at the wheel and hit two cars as she was driving home Wednesday morning.Off-duty police officer causes head-on collision
It happened at about 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of Seventh and Oak streets. Police said Imelda Mendoza, having just ended her patrol shift, was off duty and on her way home. The average police shift is 10 hours.
Mendoza, who was driving a grey Pontiac Grand Am, clipped the back of a Subaru Outback and then slammed head-on into a Honda Civic, police said.
Rescue crews had to extricate Mendoza and the driver of the Honda, Melissa Mitscher, from their cars.
Video from the scene showed the mangled Honda and the badly damaged Pontiac.
Both Mendoza and Mitscher were rushed to the hospital. Each woman suffered a non-life threatening leg injury. Both are expected to recover.
The driver of the Subaru, Todd Sussman, was not hurt.
The intersection of Seventh and Oak streets was closed during the investigation and until the wreck could be cleared.
Mendoza, a Phoenix police officer with three years of experience, will be cited for failure to control speed to avoid a collision.
Phoenix Pools Should Start Re-Opening This Weekend
Crews have been cleaning all the pools since Monday, when a bacterial infection was found in the water at one west side pool.
Phoenix city officials on Wednesday announced that the 29 closed city swimming pools will reopen, on a rolling basis, beginning this weekend. All pools were closed after cryptosporidium, a bug which causes an intestinal illness, was discovered in the water at Marivue Pool at 5625 W. Osborn Rd. Since then, the county Department of Public Health has received 41 contacts from the public claiming to be ill, and 17 lifeguards have reported illness as well. For that reason, and since the lifeguards rotate between pools, the decision was made to close all the pools until they could all be treated.
At the news conference, Mayor Phil Gordon, Parks Director Sara Hensley, and Water Services Dept. Director David Modeer said that the infection likely came from the soiled diaper of a child who was playing in the pool. "Yes, it occasionally happens where a parent may not be responsible enough to put a swim diaper on a child," said Hensley, referring to watertight diapers that are available just for that purpose. However, Mayor Gordon said the bacteria could have come from another source, such as an ill adult, or the bacteria could have been introduced into the pool from something like a water toy brought to the pool from a home pool, a tubing trip on the Salt River, etc.
Crews have been hand-cleaning all surfaces at all of the city pools, including the pool decks, locker rooms, restrooms, etc. In addition, the water in the pools has been hyper-chlorinated to kill any remaining infection. As the chlorine level in each pool returns to normal, which takes a few days, those pools will be reopened to the public.
If you have regular activities at a pool, such as swimming lessons, Parks Director Hensley said you will be contacted when the pool you use has re-opened. Otherwise, for more information, you can call the city at (602) 534-2222 or e-mail pks.pio@phoenix.gov
Phoenix city officials on Wednesday announced that the 29 closed city swimming pools will reopen, on a rolling basis, beginning this weekend. All pools were closed after cryptosporidium, a bug which causes an intestinal illness, was discovered in the water at Marivue Pool at 5625 W. Osborn Rd. Since then, the county Department of Public Health has received 41 contacts from the public claiming to be ill, and 17 lifeguards have reported illness as well. For that reason, and since the lifeguards rotate between pools, the decision was made to close all the pools until they could all be treated.
At the news conference, Mayor Phil Gordon, Parks Director Sara Hensley, and Water Services Dept. Director David Modeer said that the infection likely came from the soiled diaper of a child who was playing in the pool. "Yes, it occasionally happens where a parent may not be responsible enough to put a swim diaper on a child," said Hensley, referring to watertight diapers that are available just for that purpose. However, Mayor Gordon said the bacteria could have come from another source, such as an ill adult, or the bacteria could have been introduced into the pool from something like a water toy brought to the pool from a home pool, a tubing trip on the Salt River, etc.
Crews have been hand-cleaning all surfaces at all of the city pools, including the pool decks, locker rooms, restrooms, etc. In addition, the water in the pools has been hyper-chlorinated to kill any remaining infection. As the chlorine level in each pool returns to normal, which takes a few days, those pools will be reopened to the public.
If you have regular activities at a pool, such as swimming lessons, Parks Director Hensley said you will be contacted when the pool you use has re-opened. Otherwise, for more information, you can call the city at (602) 534-2222 or e-mail pks.pio@phoenix.gov
Illegals Rescued from Flooded Border Tunnel
The U.S. Border Patrol says it rescued three people from flooding on the Arizona-Mexico border after they became trapped in flood-control tunnels under the Nogales port of entry.
Agency spokesman Brian Levin says the first rescue occurred Saturday evening when officers heard cries for help and found a 27-year-old Mexican man pinned against a tunnel wall by flood waters.
Officers removed several grates, lowered a rope and helped the man climb to safety.
Later that night, officers heard more cries for help coming from the same flood control channels under the port. They found a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy trapped by the water.
With help from the officers, the Mexican teens reached a ladder and climbed out.
Agency spokesman Brian Levin says the first rescue occurred Saturday evening when officers heard cries for help and found a 27-year-old Mexican man pinned against a tunnel wall by flood waters.
Officers removed several grates, lowered a rope and helped the man climb to safety.
Later that night, officers heard more cries for help coming from the same flood control channels under the port. They found a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy trapped by the water.
With help from the officers, the Mexican teens reached a ladder and climbed out.
Surprise Police Chief's Badge, Gun Stolen!
Police in Surprise say they've recovered a sports utility vehicle stolen from police chief Dan Hughes, but not his badge and gun.
Police spokesman Randy Rody says Hughes was working out at a gym on Friday night when someone broke in to his locker and stole his wallet, badge, keys and uniform. Then they drove off in his unmarked police SUV.
The vehicle was recovered later in the night. But Rohm says they still haven't recovered the chief's .40-caliber Glock pistol or the rest of his belongings.
Rohm says whoever stole the items is probably bragging about the crime and he's asking for the public to help put them behind bars.
Police spokesman Randy Rody says Hughes was working out at a gym on Friday night when someone broke in to his locker and stole his wallet, badge, keys and uniform. Then they drove off in his unmarked police SUV.
The vehicle was recovered later in the night. But Rohm says they still haven't recovered the chief's .40-caliber Glock pistol or the rest of his belongings.
Rohm says whoever stole the items is probably bragging about the crime and he's asking for the public to help put them behind bars.
Maricopa County Schools Chief Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor
Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling has pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge, ending a case where she originally faced 21 felony counts.Dowling pleaded guilty to one count of employing a relative on Friday. She faces a maximum of four months in jail and $750 in fines.
Sheriff's deputies raided her home and office in early 2006 as they investigated possible misuse of public funds, bid rigging, nepotism and malfeasance. She was eventually indicted on theft, misuse of public funds, conflict of interest and procurement fraud.
Dowling's lawyer told The Arizona Republic that she pleaded guilty to hiring her daughter in 1999, something that wasn't even part of the sheriff's probe.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Salmonella toll tops 1,000; Peppers are now looked at
More than 1,000 people now are confirmed ill from salmonella initially linked to raw tomatoes, a grim milestone Wednesday that makes this the worst foodborne outbreak in at least a decade. Adding to the confusion, the government is warning certain people to avoid types of hot peppers, too. Certain raw tomatoes - red round, plum and Roma - remain a chief suspect and the government stressed again Wednesday that all consumers should avoid them unless they were harvested in areas cleared of suspicion.
But people at highest risk of severe illness from salmonella also should not eat raw jalapeno and serrano peppers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Wednesday. The most vulnerable are the elderly, people with weak immune systems and infants.
Raw jalapenos caused some of the illnesses, conclude CDC investigations of two clusters of sick people who ate at the same restaurant or catered event.
But jalapenos cannot be the sole culprit - because many of the ill insist they didn't eat hot peppers or foods like salsa that contain them, CDC food safety chief Dr. Robert Tauxe told The Associated Press. As for serrano peppers, that was included in the warning because they're difficult for consumers to tell apart.
In some clusters of illnesses, jalapenos "simply were not on the menu," Tauxe said. "We are quite sure that neither tomatoes nor jalapenos explain the entire outbreak at this point. ... We're presuming that both of them have caused illness."
That has Food and Drug Administration inspectors looking hard for farms that may have grown tomatoes earlier in the spring and then switched to pepper harvesting, or for distribution centers that handled both types of produce.
Also still being investigated is fresh cilantro, because a significant number of people who got sick most recently say they ate all three - raw tomatoes, jalapenos and cilantro.
"I understand the frustration" that after weeks of warnings, the outbreak isn't solved, Tauxe said. "But we really are working as hard and as fast as we can to sort out this complicated situation and protect the health of the American people."
Added FDA food safety chief Dr. David Acheson: "It's just been a spectacularly complicated and prolonged outbreak."
The outbreak isn't over, or even showing any sign of slowing, said Tauxe - with about 25 to 40 cases being a reported a day for weeks now, to a total of 1,017 known since the outbreak began on April 10.
Illnesses now have been reported in 41 states - and even four cases in Canada, although three of those people are believed to have been infected while traveling in the U.S. and the fourth is still being probed.
At least 300 people became ill in June, with the latest falling sick on June 26. Two deaths are associated with the outbreak - a Texas man in his 80s, and another Texas man who died of cancer but for whom salmonella may have played a role - and 203 people have been hospitalized.
The toll far surpasses what had been considered the largest foodborne outbreak of the past decade, the 715 salmonella cases linked to peanut butter in 2006, Tauxe said. In the mid-1990s, there were well over 1,000 cases of cyclospora linked to raspberries, and previous large outbreaks of salmonella from ice cream and milk.
The CDC acknowledges that for every case of salmonella confirmed to the government, there may be 30 to 40 others that go undiagnosed or unreported.
"The outbreak could actually be tens of thousands of people rather than 1,000 people," agreed Caroline Smith DeWaal of the consumer advocacy Center for Science in the Public Interest. "It's certainly a disturbing event to have this many illnesses spanning this many months."
UPDATE on the MCSO crime sweep in Cave Creek
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit (Triple I), is continuing its crime suppression operation today in the Town of Cave Creek in and around the Good Shepherd of the Hills Church. This, after yesterday’s operation stats totaled 19 people arrested and taken into custody, 18 of whom were determined to be illegal aliens. One of those arrested yesterday was a male prostitute wanted on a felony warrant for identity theft.
This is the second day of this operation which comes as a result of a plea from citizens in Cave Creek, voicing their complaints and concerns about day laborer and illegal alien activity in the town.
Recently a federal court shot down an ordinance which would have loitering or soliciting work from a roadway illegal.
Arpaio says, “These people are foolish if they think the Sheriff’s Office is going to be dissuaded from enforcing the law just because the city does not have this ordinance in place.”
=============
Earlier story:
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Joe Arpaio’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit (Triple I), Tuesday responded to complaints from Cave Creek citizens regarding day laborer problems at the Good Shepherd of the Hills Church.
The Triple I team arrested 18 illegal aliens under state and federal immigration laws in Tuesday’s operation. While the day laborer problems in Cave Creek have continually been enforced by deputies, this time citizen complaints came in reference day laborer and illegal alien activity near the Carefree Highway.
In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in the number of arrests made for human smuggling/load vehicles in the area of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway. In response to that activity, the Sheriff’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit did a saturation patrol in the Cave Creek area beginning early Tuesday morning.
In a matter of five hours, deputies conducted 81 interviews, in the process of making 59 traffic violation stops. During those traffic stops, 19 people were arrested and taken into custody, including the 18 illegal aliens.
“Every crime suppression operation shows us the immigration problem in Maricopa County is pervasive and our next stop is Mesa,” says Sheriff Arpaio.
The Sheriff’s Office has conducted several crime suppression operations this year resulting in a total of 193 arrests; and 77 warrants were cleared.
Of the 193 people arrested, 107 were determined to be illegal aliens.
This is the second day of this operation which comes as a result of a plea from citizens in Cave Creek, voicing their complaints and concerns about day laborer and illegal alien activity in the town.
Recently a federal court shot down an ordinance which would have loitering or soliciting work from a roadway illegal.
Arpaio says, “These people are foolish if they think the Sheriff’s Office is going to be dissuaded from enforcing the law just because the city does not have this ordinance in place.”
=============
Earlier story:
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Joe Arpaio’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit (Triple I), Tuesday responded to complaints from Cave Creek citizens regarding day laborer problems at the Good Shepherd of the Hills Church.
The Triple I team arrested 18 illegal aliens under state and federal immigration laws in Tuesday’s operation. While the day laborer problems in Cave Creek have continually been enforced by deputies, this time citizen complaints came in reference day laborer and illegal alien activity near the Carefree Highway.
In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in the number of arrests made for human smuggling/load vehicles in the area of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway. In response to that activity, the Sheriff’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit did a saturation patrol in the Cave Creek area beginning early Tuesday morning.
In a matter of five hours, deputies conducted 81 interviews, in the process of making 59 traffic violation stops. During those traffic stops, 19 people were arrested and taken into custody, including the 18 illegal aliens.
“Every crime suppression operation shows us the immigration problem in Maricopa County is pervasive and our next stop is Mesa,” says Sheriff Arpaio.
The Sheriff’s Office has conducted several crime suppression operations this year resulting in a total of 193 arrests; and 77 warrants were cleared.
Of the 193 people arrested, 107 were determined to be illegal aliens.
4 suspects caught stealing 2,500-lb. spool of copper wire
The following is a press release from the Peoria Police Department
PEORIA - On Sunday, July 6, at about 11:30 pm, an officer was patrolling in the area of 9100 W. Cactus Road when he saw the listed suspect vehicle with 2 males standing near by. One suspect ran into a hole cut in the fence and the other left in the truck which spilled a 2,500 pound spool of copper wire in the parking lot.
The vehicle was followed until a suspect was seen coming out of the yard and he was taken into custody. Another officer responding to the scene saw 2 males walking on Grand Avenue south of 91st Avenue and contacted them. Further investigation revealed they were involved in the crime and ran from the yard when police units first arrived. The fourth suspect, who left in the vehicle, was identified through follow-up investigation by Peoria Police Property Crimes Detectives and a search was served on a motel room in the 8200 block of North Black Canyon Highway in Phoenix where the truck was located and additional stolen property was recovered.
Location
9100 West Cactus Road
(National Power Line Company)
Suspects
#1: Manuel Burciaga, DOB: 04-06-1970
#2: Jeremy Hale, DOB: 07-21-1985
#3: Timothy Lukaszewski, DOB: 03-17-1962
#4: Antonio Delacruz, DOB: 01-17-71
Suspect vehicle: Brown, Chevy Silverado Ex-cab
All residents of Phoenix
All booked MCSO on Burglary charges. $50,000 in property recovered.
Finally someone will held responsible for all this theft. As if gas prices were not enough to deal with, so many companies and individuals are being hurt by cooper thieves.
PEORIA - On Sunday, July 6, at about 11:30 pm, an officer was patrolling in the area of 9100 W. Cactus Road when he saw the listed suspect vehicle with 2 males standing near by. One suspect ran into a hole cut in the fence and the other left in the truck which spilled a 2,500 pound spool of copper wire in the parking lot.
The vehicle was followed until a suspect was seen coming out of the yard and he was taken into custody. Another officer responding to the scene saw 2 males walking on Grand Avenue south of 91st Avenue and contacted them. Further investigation revealed they were involved in the crime and ran from the yard when police units first arrived. The fourth suspect, who left in the vehicle, was identified through follow-up investigation by Peoria Police Property Crimes Detectives and a search was served on a motel room in the 8200 block of North Black Canyon Highway in Phoenix where the truck was located and additional stolen property was recovered.
Location
9100 West Cactus Road
(National Power Line Company)
Suspects
#1: Manuel Burciaga, DOB: 04-06-1970
#2: Jeremy Hale, DOB: 07-21-1985
#3: Timothy Lukaszewski, DOB: 03-17-1962
#4: Antonio Delacruz, DOB: 01-17-71
Suspect vehicle: Brown, Chevy Silverado Ex-cab
All residents of Phoenix
All booked MCSO on Burglary charges. $50,000 in property recovered.
Finally someone will held responsible for all this theft. As if gas prices were not enough to deal with, so many companies and individuals are being hurt by cooper thieves.
Top two:
Left: Manuel Burciaga
Right: Jeremy Hale
Bottom two:
Left: Antonio Delacruz
Right: Timothy Lukaszewski
Left: Manuel Burciaga
Right: Jeremy Hale
Bottom two:
Left: Antonio Delacruz
Right: Timothy Lukaszewski
BREAKING NEWS - I17 closure due to semi tip over
The Department of Public Safety has the I-17 northbound shut down due to an over sized semi that has jack-knifed near Black Canyon City.
The semi was carrying a massive 190,000 gallon tank. A mechanical failure caused the semi to jack-knife.
No time has been given for the road to re-open. There are worries of the tank sliding down the hill. More to come soon.
Silent Witness Expands to Video!
The Valley's Silent Witness program will soon be seen in government offices, and likely in businesses. The program's coordinator, Sgt. Paul Penzone, has secured three corporate sponsors who have paid for the purchase of dozens of TVs, and for video production costs.
The program, which will be updated monthly, will feature unsolved crimes, wanted fugitives, crime-fighting tips, and other police-related items. (See photo below of sample screen shot.) It will be played in a continuous loop.
Initially, Penzone says, the TVs will be located in the public lobby of police departments around the Valley. He hopes to expand it to the lobbies of other government offices with high public traffic, and eventually to high-traffic areas of businesses such as stores, tire shops, medical offices, etc.
The idea, he says, is to make more people aware of Silent Witness' mission and cases, and to get as many eyes and ears as possible helping solve crimes.
If you have any information on cases, call (480) WITNESS (480-948-6377). For more information about Silent Witness, visit www.silentwitness.org .
First Light Rail Train Pulls into Downtown Station
A light rail train has pulled into downtown Phoenix for the first time during a test of the new regional commuter rail system.Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon met the train at the downtown Washington Street/Central Avenue station. He told onlookers that he hopes the train will usher in a new era for the auto-friendly city.
The rail line is expected to open in December. During the summer and fall, officials plan to test the $1.4 billion system, checking electrical connections, switches and the cars themselves.
The 20-mile line stretches from the city's northwestern neighborhoods through the heart of downtown Phoenix and east to Tempe and Mesa.
Trains have been tested along eastern parts of the route for the past several months. The rail line is expected to open in December.
Machete attack at Tucson bus stop - 2 teen girls hurt
Police in Tucson say two girls are recovering from injuries they received when a man with a machete attacked them at a bus stop.
Police spokesman Sgt. Fabian Pacheco says three girls were waiting at a bus stop when a man with a bandana over his face came up behind them and starting hacking with the machete.
Pacheco says a 17-year-old girl appeared to be the main target of Monday night's attack. She was critically hurt, suffering several machete strikes to her face and head, and to her forearms as she tried to fend off the attack.
The 17-year-old's friend tried to intervene and was also struck but not seriously injured. The third friend wasn't hurt.
Pacheco says the girl did not know her attacker, who left in a white four-door Dodge sedan.
Man guilty of stabbing, raping and robbing 16 yr-old girl
County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced that David Leon Stokes (DOB11/6/57) has been found guilty of the rape of a 16 year old Phoenix girl that happened in 1998. According to the probable cause statement filed by Phoenix Police, the victim was at a self serve car wash when Stokes stabbed her and forced her into her car. He then raped the victim and held her captive in her car while he robbed her and drove to another location to buy drugs.
Stokes then forced the victim out of her car, leaving her bloody and half naked on a Phoenix street. The victim survived and Stokes got away.
The victim reported the attack to police. DNA samples retrieved from the victim did not match any known offenders at the time. In the years that followed police continued to investigate and check the DNA database.
They got a match in December 2004 linking Stokes to the attack. Stokes was already in prison on an assault conviction.
The investigation continued; police worked with prosecutors at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Stokes was indicted.
On July 9, 2008 Stokes was convicted of:
•Sexual Assault, a class two dangerous felony
•Kidnapping, a class two dangerous felony
•Aggravated Assault, a class three dangerous felony
•Armed Robbery, a class three dangerous felony
Deputy County Attorney Jason Holmberg prosecuted the case. Stokes is scheduled to be sentenced
August 15, 2008.
Thomas stated, “This verdict represents the efforts of tireless investigators and dedicated prosecutors who never lost hope that the victim would see justice done.”
Man arrested for sex with 15 yr old girl he met on MySpace
A felon is arrested for having sex with a teenager he met on MySpace.Father found man with teen daughter
Police say Justin Allen Lee, 23, met the 15-year-old online and arranged a meeting at her Chandler house.
When the teen's father discovered Lee, he took off.
Police later arrested him on suspicion of sexual contact with a minor.
Police say Lee admitted to thinking the girl was underage.
More fires everywhere you look
It seems everywhere you look there is another fire going up. Be it here in Arizona or California to our west.
Sheriff Joe should put his inmates on fire duty. Bring them up in the hills with some light weight equipment and a few guards with shotguns and let the criminals help put out these horrible fires.
Save our state a ton of money all while helping our beautiful state stay that way. Just an idea...
Sheriff Joe should put his inmates on fire duty. Bring them up in the hills with some light weight equipment and a few guards with shotguns and let the criminals help put out these horrible fires.
Save our state a ton of money all while helping our beautiful state stay that way. Just an idea...
Warren Jeffs Back in Jail After Hospitalization
The polygamous sect leader was treated for "a weakened state of health."
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was back in an Arizona jail cell Thursday, amid lingering questions about what prompted his hospitalization in Las Vegas for treatment of a "weakened state of health,'' a sheriff's official said.
"I can confirm he is in our custody at the Mohave County Jail,'' Trish Carter, spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan, said.
Carter said the 52-year-old leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was returned Wednesday to the Kingman, Arizona, jail where Carter said he had been found conscious but in a "weakened state of health, acting in a convulsive manner, shaking, and running a fever" on Tuesday.
"The obvious question now is what the problem was," said Carter, who said jailers weren't told Jeffs' medical diagnosis but did not believe his condition was life-threatening.
Jeffs was first treated at Kingman Regional Medical Center, and then flown by medical helicopter about 100 miles to Las Vegas, where he was hospitalized under heavy guard. A hospital spokesman said no patient had been listed under Jeffs' name.
Jeffs has been in custody since his August 2006 arrest outside Las Vegas. He had been on the run for more than a year, and made the FBI's Most Wanted List before his capture.
Utah court documents show Jeffs lost 30 pounds in jail awaiting his 2007 trial in St. George, Utah, and that he was hospitalized for treatment of a self-imposed fast, dehydration and sleep deprivation.
A clinical social worker who interviewed Jeffs in April 2007 reported Jeffs attempted to hang himself in January 2007 at the Washington County jail, and was seen several days later throwing himself against walls and banging his head.
Records show Jeffs was treated in a Utah prison infirmary in February 2007 for health problems attributed to refusing to eat.
Utah authorities say the 6-foot-3 Jeffs weighed 145 pounds when he was moved Feb. 26 to Arizona.
Jeffs was convicted by a Utah jury of two counts of first-degree felony rape as an accomplice. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for his role in the 2001 marriage of a 14-year-old follower to her 19-year-old cousin.
Jeffs is charged in Arizona as an accomplice with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor stemming from marriages he allegedly arranged between underage girls and older men.
Sounds to me like jail is really good for this horrible man.
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was back in an Arizona jail cell Thursday, amid lingering questions about what prompted his hospitalization in Las Vegas for treatment of a "weakened state of health,'' a sheriff's official said.
"I can confirm he is in our custody at the Mohave County Jail,'' Trish Carter, spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan, said.
Carter said the 52-year-old leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was returned Wednesday to the Kingman, Arizona, jail where Carter said he had been found conscious but in a "weakened state of health, acting in a convulsive manner, shaking, and running a fever" on Tuesday.
"The obvious question now is what the problem was," said Carter, who said jailers weren't told Jeffs' medical diagnosis but did not believe his condition was life-threatening.
Jeffs was first treated at Kingman Regional Medical Center, and then flown by medical helicopter about 100 miles to Las Vegas, where he was hospitalized under heavy guard. A hospital spokesman said no patient had been listed under Jeffs' name.
Jeffs has been in custody since his August 2006 arrest outside Las Vegas. He had been on the run for more than a year, and made the FBI's Most Wanted List before his capture.
Utah court documents show Jeffs lost 30 pounds in jail awaiting his 2007 trial in St. George, Utah, and that he was hospitalized for treatment of a self-imposed fast, dehydration and sleep deprivation.
A clinical social worker who interviewed Jeffs in April 2007 reported Jeffs attempted to hang himself in January 2007 at the Washington County jail, and was seen several days later throwing himself against walls and banging his head.
Records show Jeffs was treated in a Utah prison infirmary in February 2007 for health problems attributed to refusing to eat.
Utah authorities say the 6-foot-3 Jeffs weighed 145 pounds when he was moved Feb. 26 to Arizona.
Jeffs was convicted by a Utah jury of two counts of first-degree felony rape as an accomplice. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for his role in the 2001 marriage of a 14-year-old follower to her 19-year-old cousin.
Jeffs is charged in Arizona as an accomplice with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor stemming from marriages he allegedly arranged between underage girls and older men.
Sounds to me like jail is really good for this horrible man.
Horn Cleared in Shooting Two Robbers May Face New Charges
Joe Horn is not speaking in front of the camera these days, but he is speaking.“When is enough, enough?” asks Horn, during a recent phone call with reporter Rucks Russell, who has had several conversations with the Pasadena grandfather since Monday.
Last week, a Harris County grand jury cleared Horn of all criminal charges relating to the shooting death of two men he suspected of burglarizing a neighbor’s home. The incident occurred in November 2007 and during Horn’s dramatic 911 call to the Pasadena police, the dispatcher heard the distinct sound of the cocking of a shotgun and repeated shots being fired.
According to Horn’s attorney, Tom Lambright, the last thing Horn wanted was to get into a violent confrontation with the men. He said Horn certainly didn’t plan on killing anyone. Since that day, Horn’s life has changed and he still feels awful about the shooting.
"I can't go anywhere without having to re-live this... without wondering if someone's looking at me thinking something awful," said Horn.
During the several phone conversations with Rucks, Horn went on to express how the whole ordeal has affected everyone around him.
“This has been so hard, so terribly hard on my family,” said Horn. "I've never been through anything like this. It's the most painful time of my life."
During the interview with 11 news, Horn's voice cracked with emotion at times, especially when he talked about the anonymous letters of support he’s received.
“How do you say thank you to all these people? I’m not articulate enough to find the words,” said Horn.
But not everyone supports the jury’s decision and Horn's freedom. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has called for a congressional inquiry into the grand jury process. Jackson Lee isn't the only one upset. The incident last year spawned angry protests, which have grown louder since a grand jury's decision. And according to police, Horn also received numerous death threats.
"In the final analysis, I didn't do anything wrong. Is there no end to this? When is enough, enough?" said Horn when asked for his reaction. "I did not come out here with the intent to shoot anybody, but I was not going to come to this situation without my gun."
Horn explained himself to police, a grand jury and even a national audience on TV. Now what he wants most of all is a chance to just be normal again.
"I'd trade places with you in a heart beat, Rucks. You walk in my shoes just for a day, and I'll gladly walk in yours," said Horn.
What car thieves are looking for
The National Insurance Crime Bureau said thieves like the Hondas because of their parts.
The list is out on the most stolen cars in America, with the '94 Honda Accord on top.
Nationwide, the '95 Honda Civic was the most widely stolen car in 2007.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) conducted the study and said Hondas are prized because of their parts.
Frank Scafidi of the NCIB said the catalytic converters contain platinum and many thieves think they are worth more than they actually are.
Click here to see if your car is on the list!
The list is out on the most stolen cars in America, with the '94 Honda Accord on top.
Nationwide, the '95 Honda Civic was the most widely stolen car in 2007.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) conducted the study and said Hondas are prized because of their parts.
Frank Scafidi of the NCIB said the catalytic converters contain platinum and many thieves think they are worth more than they actually are.
Click here to see if your car is on the list!
Sheriff Joe finds a military bomb at recycling plant, could be explosive
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office responded Wednesday to a call of 11 illegals working at the All Products Recycling business, located at 3220 W. Broadway Road.Upon arrival to make the arrests, they found what appeared to be military ordnance at the location. They closed Broadway Road at 35th Avenue for several blocks east and west of the recycling business.
The bomb squad responded to the scene to work on the device.
The owner of the business was also arrested on outstanding warrants in Mesa and Maricopa County. Eleven illegals were also taken into MCSO custody.
No rain to speak of...
Well, no monsoons to speak of yet. Isn't that just like the weather guys and gals to give out wrong information lol that never happens!
Anyway, hopefully something tonight.
Anyway, hopefully something tonight.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Arizona welcomes the monsoon!
According to the news today, we are in for some monsoons. I can't wait, I love these storms!
You can feel it in the air. If we get some good action I'll be sure to post some video.
You can feel it in the air. If we get some good action I'll be sure to post some video.
Speeders get a big break in Ariozna
Construction on the freeway deactivated most of the cameras as well as a plan to install cameras statewide were cited as the reasons for ending the photo enforcement, according to the Scottsdale City Manager.
Mesa, Arizona - Scottsdale's one-year agreement with the Department of Public Safety for photo enforcement on the Loop 101 has ended.
A letter sent Thursday by acting Scottsdale City Manager John Little cited construction on the freeway having deactivated most of the cameras as well as a plan to install cameras statewide for ending the photo enforcement.
Scottsdale officials say all citations issued through June will be processed in Scottsdale City Court.
Scottsdale started a nine-month pilot program along an eight-mile stretch of Loop 101 in January 2006.
The program was the first to install fixed-speed cameras on a freeway.
It returned in February 2007 and has operated continuously since that time.
DPS has administered the program since July 2007 while Scottsdale has processed the citations.
A DPS spokesman says it has not been decided whether photo enforcement cameras will return to Loop 101.
This change comes a little late for rapper DMX, sorry big guy!
Mesa, Arizona - Scottsdale's one-year agreement with the Department of Public Safety for photo enforcement on the Loop 101 has ended.
A letter sent Thursday by acting Scottsdale City Manager John Little cited construction on the freeway having deactivated most of the cameras as well as a plan to install cameras statewide for ending the photo enforcement.
Scottsdale officials say all citations issued through June will be processed in Scottsdale City Court.
Scottsdale started a nine-month pilot program along an eight-mile stretch of Loop 101 in January 2006.
The program was the first to install fixed-speed cameras on a freeway.
It returned in February 2007 and has operated continuously since that time.
DPS has administered the program since July 2007 while Scottsdale has processed the citations.
A DPS spokesman says it has not been decided whether photo enforcement cameras will return to Loop 101.
This change comes a little late for rapper DMX, sorry big guy!
Who's watching you? TLO information
Terrorism Liasion Officers are often non-law enforcement people, like firefighters, who are asked to report suspicious behavior.
Arizona is in the forefront of the fight against terrorism with one of its major tools: the Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO).
TLOs are usually non-law enforcement people such as firefighters and paramedics who receive about 40 hours of training in order to report suspicious behavior in the course of their jobs to the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC). Those reports are put in the state database for further investigation, and could be sent to federal terrorist databases.
"Arizona was one of the first states to establish a TLO program," said Lieutenant Larry Perry of ACTIC. He said there are 200 TLOs trained in the state to provide reports on suspicious behavior, which are then investigated, and potentially forwarded to federal authorities. He believes it's an important information resource in the fight against terrorism, but not everyone agrees.
"It's a serious privacy threat to normal American citizens who aren't accused of any crime." said John Verdi of the Electronic Privacy Center.
Verdi said that suspicious activity can be anything from taking a picture of a downtown building to expressing anti-government sentiments, or even wearing blue jeans.
"We don't want to discourage the public sending this information in, because that one [piece of] information they send in could be that one lead we are looking for," said Lt. Perry.
Web site 8signs.org descirbes what's considered to be suspicious behavior and provides information on how to report it.
Arizona is in the forefront of the fight against terrorism with one of its major tools: the Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO).
TLOs are usually non-law enforcement people such as firefighters and paramedics who receive about 40 hours of training in order to report suspicious behavior in the course of their jobs to the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC). Those reports are put in the state database for further investigation, and could be sent to federal terrorist databases.
"Arizona was one of the first states to establish a TLO program," said Lieutenant Larry Perry of ACTIC. He said there are 200 TLOs trained in the state to provide reports on suspicious behavior, which are then investigated, and potentially forwarded to federal authorities. He believes it's an important information resource in the fight against terrorism, but not everyone agrees.
"It's a serious privacy threat to normal American citizens who aren't accused of any crime." said John Verdi of the Electronic Privacy Center.
Verdi said that suspicious activity can be anything from taking a picture of a downtown building to expressing anti-government sentiments, or even wearing blue jeans.
"We don't want to discourage the public sending this information in, because that one [piece of] information they send in could be that one lead we are looking for," said Lt. Perry.
Web site 8signs.org descirbes what's considered to be suspicious behavior and provides information on how to report it.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Phoenix "Graffiti Busters" Clean 50% More Sites
The City of Phoenix "Graffiti Busters" program cleaned a record high 95,000 graffiti sites in the 2007-08 fiscal year that ended June 30. That represents a 50% increase over the previous year's record of 63,000 sites. Tim Boling, Deputy Director of the city's Neighborhood Services Department, attributes much of the increase to improvements in the program's efficiency.
For example, he says, they've added paint-matching equipment to the maintenance trucks. Previously, crews had to scan the background wall color, return to their shop to mix the paint to match, and then return to the site the next day to paint it. Now, they can color-match paint on the spot. As a result, a crew can typically clean and re-paint a graffiti site, start to finish, in 20 to 30 minutes.
In other cases, where painting isn't an option or isn't required, such as on signs, crews remove the paint chemically or by power-washing.
At sites where taggers return and re-vandalize recently-cleaned areas, the city can install motion-sensitive cameras which record video of movement in the area. The video can then be taken to neighborhood officers or school resource officers, who often recognize the vandals, leading to their arrest.
Graffiti Busters also has a free program in which neighborhood groups and businesses are provided with free paint, tools, and training to clean graffiti in their areas. For more information on that, call (602) 495-0323.
If you see a graffiti vandal in action, call 911. If you think you know who might be committing graffiti in your area, call the graffiti reward hotline, (602) 262-7327.
For example, he says, they've added paint-matching equipment to the maintenance trucks. Previously, crews had to scan the background wall color, return to their shop to mix the paint to match, and then return to the site the next day to paint it. Now, they can color-match paint on the spot. As a result, a crew can typically clean and re-paint a graffiti site, start to finish, in 20 to 30 minutes.
In other cases, where painting isn't an option or isn't required, such as on signs, crews remove the paint chemically or by power-washing.
At sites where taggers return and re-vandalize recently-cleaned areas, the city can install motion-sensitive cameras which record video of movement in the area. The video can then be taken to neighborhood officers or school resource officers, who often recognize the vandals, leading to their arrest.
Graffiti Busters also has a free program in which neighborhood groups and businesses are provided with free paint, tools, and training to clean graffiti in their areas. For more information on that, call (602) 495-0323.
If you see a graffiti vandal in action, call 911. If you think you know who might be committing graffiti in your area, call the graffiti reward hotline, (602) 262-7327.
Loop 202 news
ADOT announced that the $195 million project between Power Rd. and University Dr. will open the week of July 21.
East Valley commuters will find it easier going into downtown Phoenix when the final leg of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway opens in Mesa.
ADOT announced that the $195 million project between Power Rd. and University Dr. will open the week of July 21.
The project will be finished on budget and ahead of schedule.
East Valley commuters will find it easier going into downtown Phoenix when the final leg of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway opens in Mesa.
ADOT announced that the $195 million project between Power Rd. and University Dr. will open the week of July 21.
The project will be finished on budget and ahead of schedule.
The Crown King fire said to be fully contained by Friday
A closure around the neighboring summer home community of Horsethief Basin is expected to be lifted Wednesday.
CROWN KING, Arizona - Fire crews who have nearly contained a wildfire that threatened the historic mining community of Crown King are now focused on clearing surrounding roads.
Fire officials say with most fire lines secure, firefighters were working Monday on removing fallen trees and brush adjacent to roads to make travel safe. About 120 residents of Crown King, a community 20 miles southeast of Prescott, forced to evacuate more than a week ago returned to their homes Saturday night.
A closure around the neighboring summer home community of Horsethief Basin is expected to be lifted Wednesday.
The blaze, which grew to 9,624 acres, or more than 14 square miles, is expected to reach full containment Friday.
CROWN KING, Arizona - Fire crews who have nearly contained a wildfire that threatened the historic mining community of Crown King are now focused on clearing surrounding roads.
Fire officials say with most fire lines secure, firefighters were working Monday on removing fallen trees and brush adjacent to roads to make travel safe. About 120 residents of Crown King, a community 20 miles southeast of Prescott, forced to evacuate more than a week ago returned to their homes Saturday night.
A closure around the neighboring summer home community of Horsethief Basin is expected to be lifted Wednesday.
The blaze, which grew to 9,624 acres, or more than 14 square miles, is expected to reach full containment Friday.
Operation FALCON takes hundreds of fugitives off streets
Over three hundred fugitives are behind bars after federal, state and local law enforcement agencies completed Operation FALCON, a state-wide round-up.
Multiple agencies make big arrests
The operation arrested 312 fugitives on 346 warrants throughout Arizona. Authorities also took 10 firearms off the street.
"One fundamental responsibility of the law enforcement community is to aggressively pursue fugitives who have victimized the citizens of its communities," said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. "After this week, it should be known throughout the State that law enforcement officials, on every level, are working together to bring all felons to justice."
Among the arrests were 10 accused sex offenders and three suspected murderers. In addition the week-long bust put many career criminals behind bars.
"Operation FALCON was a successful collaborative initiative which will bring closure to many open investigations and send a message to fugitives that "you can run but you can't hide." We are grateful to the community and all of our law enforcement partners throughout Arizona for the support in this endeavor", said Fidencio Rivera, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona.
Operation FALCON involved over 154 law enforcement officers from 41 contributing agencies throughout Arizona.
The national operation has been going on for four years.
Multiple agencies make big arrests
The operation arrested 312 fugitives on 346 warrants throughout Arizona. Authorities also took 10 firearms off the street.
"One fundamental responsibility of the law enforcement community is to aggressively pursue fugitives who have victimized the citizens of its communities," said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. "After this week, it should be known throughout the State that law enforcement officials, on every level, are working together to bring all felons to justice."
Among the arrests were 10 accused sex offenders and three suspected murderers. In addition the week-long bust put many career criminals behind bars.
"Operation FALCON was a successful collaborative initiative which will bring closure to many open investigations and send a message to fugitives that "you can run but you can't hide." We are grateful to the community and all of our law enforcement partners throughout Arizona for the support in this endeavor", said Fidencio Rivera, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona.
Operation FALCON involved over 154 law enforcement officers from 41 contributing agencies throughout Arizona.
The national operation has been going on for four years.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Funny sight on Google maps
So I was looking at Google maps and typed in my own address to if they had updated anything. It was the funniest thing, there is a HUGE chemtrail right above the house! It's actually quite scary if you think about what is in those chemtrails. Anyway, check it out:
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Illegal Immigration Stats to Date
Under the State law – Arrests by Sheriff’s deputies of persons transporting or being transported illegally into Arizona: 1,003
Under the Federal law – Arrests by Sheriff’s deputies who, in the course of their duties, determine the arrestee is in Arizona illegally: 1,160
ICE “Holds” - Each inmate booked is interviewed for immigration status. Sheriff’s detention officers have turned over 14,295 illegal immigrants to Immigration authorities for deportation.
Thank you Sheriff Joe!
Under the Federal law – Arrests by Sheriff’s deputies who, in the course of their duties, determine the arrestee is in Arizona illegally: 1,160
ICE “Holds” - Each inmate booked is interviewed for immigration status. Sheriff’s detention officers have turned over 14,295 illegal immigrants to Immigration authorities for deportation.
Thank you Sheriff Joe!
Police find two more teen prostitutes in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix police picked up two more young prostitutes Tuesday night in the Maryvale area. Around 8:45 pm, they found a girl working the street on McDowell Rd. near 51st Ave. She told them she had just turned 14, and had been working as a prostitute for about a year since running away from home. She gave detectives enough information that they were able to execute a search warrant at a home near 43rd Ave. and Camelback. Six males, including one juvenile, were taken into custody for questioning.
The girl was turned over to juvenile authorities, rather than being returned to her family. Lt. Bill Schemers says since she was a runaway, police were afraid that if she were taken back home, she might run away again and return to prostitution.
The second girl was picked up about two hours later, near 47th Ave. and McDowell. It turns out she was 16, and had only been working as a prostitute for a few days. She wasn't a runaway, either. Instead, police say, she had met her "pimp" at Metro Center Mall, where he approached her and offered her a job. He asked her to go for a ride with him to talk about the details. After they were in his car, police say, the man threatened the girl and her family if she didn't work for him as a prostitute.
Lt. Schemers says malls are common places for pimps to try to pick up potential prostitutes, especially minors. The men approach the girls and strike up a conversation, then offer "a better life," flash a wad of money, and perhaps suggest that the girls could be models. "In some cases, it's as easy as feeding them – buy them a McDonald's hamburger, and then 'Let's go for a ride and I'll show you what I can do for you.' " Once they're in the car where the girls can't easily escape, the pimp forces or intimidates the girl into prostitution.
Police say the tactic is especially useful during school vacations, such as during the summer, the holidays, and spring break, when teens get bored and end up at the mall for extended periods as something to do. Lt. Schemers says malls aren't babysitters, and aren't as safe as they may appear, especially where minors are concerned.
He suggests girls never be allowed to go to the mall alone. Instead, they should be under adult supervision at all times, or with a group of friends who stick together and look out for each other. Also, he suggests, "Parents need to pay particular attention and be nosy with their kids." That is, know where they are, and who they're with, at all times, and ensure that they're in a safe place.
The girl was turned over to juvenile authorities, rather than being returned to her family. Lt. Bill Schemers says since she was a runaway, police were afraid that if she were taken back home, she might run away again and return to prostitution.
The second girl was picked up about two hours later, near 47th Ave. and McDowell. It turns out she was 16, and had only been working as a prostitute for a few days. She wasn't a runaway, either. Instead, police say, she had met her "pimp" at Metro Center Mall, where he approached her and offered her a job. He asked her to go for a ride with him to talk about the details. After they were in his car, police say, the man threatened the girl and her family if she didn't work for him as a prostitute.
Lt. Schemers says malls are common places for pimps to try to pick up potential prostitutes, especially minors. The men approach the girls and strike up a conversation, then offer "a better life," flash a wad of money, and perhaps suggest that the girls could be models. "In some cases, it's as easy as feeding them – buy them a McDonald's hamburger, and then 'Let's go for a ride and I'll show you what I can do for you.' " Once they're in the car where the girls can't easily escape, the pimp forces or intimidates the girl into prostitution.
Police say the tactic is especially useful during school vacations, such as during the summer, the holidays, and spring break, when teens get bored and end up at the mall for extended periods as something to do. Lt. Schemers says malls aren't babysitters, and aren't as safe as they may appear, especially where minors are concerned.
He suggests girls never be allowed to go to the mall alone. Instead, they should be under adult supervision at all times, or with a group of friends who stick together and look out for each other. Also, he suggests, "Parents need to pay particular attention and be nosy with their kids." That is, know where they are, and who they're with, at all times, and ensure that they're in a safe place.
Kroger expands ground beef recall to Arizona and 19 other states!
First it was tomatoes and now the beef!Fourth of July picnic tables are getting a careful look as familiar hamburgers are feared to be among the tainted ingredients in separate food safety scares.
On Wednesday, The Kroger Co., which operates Fry's stores here in Arizona, expanded its voluntary recall of some ground beef products to its stores in more than 20 states, saying the meat may be contaminated with E. coli.
The nation's biggest traditional grocer also urged customers to check the ground beef in their refrigerators and freezers to determine whether it is covered by the recall.
The warning comes as federal investigators try to pinpoint the source of a separate salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes that has sickened nearly 900 people, raising more questions about the nation's food safety system.
While insisting that tomatoes remain the leading suspect, investigators are looking at other produce but remain mum on exactly what vegetables are getting tracked.
Kroger's recall stems from meat obtained from one of Kroger's suppliers, Nebraska Beef Ltd., that has been linked to illnesses reported in Michigan and Ohio between May 31 and June 8 caused by E. coli bacteria.
Nebraska Beef has recalled from wholesalers and other processing companies nearly 532,000 pounds of ground beef produced on five dates between May 16 and June 24.
Kroger said Wednesday that as a precaution it removed from stores all ground beef supplied by Nebraska Beef marked with sell by dates of May 21 or later.
"Ground beef in stores today comes from other suppliers not involved in the recall," Kroger spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said Wednesday.
The Cincinnati-based company initiated a recall June 25 for Kroger stores in Michigan and in central and northern Ohio. The expanded recall includes ground beef sold at Fred Meyer, QFC, Ralphs, Smith's, Baker's, King Soopers, City Markets, Hilander, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's with overlapping sell-by dates from mid-May through mid-July.
In some stores, the recall includes products in Styrofoam tray packages wrapped in clear cellophane or purchased from an in-store service counter. It does not include ground beef sold in 1-, 3-, or 5-pound sealed tubes or frozen ground beef patties sold in the frozen food section of its stores.
Kroger is notifying customers about the expanded recall by placing signs in stores in meat departments. It also is using its register receipt notification system.
Kroger can track purchases by customers who use the company's loyalty card, which entitles customers to certain discounts. Sometimes those customers receive information about products the next time the card is used and a receipt is issued, Glynn said.
In other cases, Kroger is able to call customers who used the loyalty card to purchase a tainted product, and it is doing that with the ground beef recall, Glynn said.
Symptoms of E. coli infection can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. It can potentially be deadly, but most people recover within five to seven days.
Health officials urge people to thoroughly cook hamburger and, if possible, use a digital thermometer to make sure meat has been heated to at least 160 degrees.
They also recommend that people wash their hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
Recalled beef sold at Fry's stores has a sell-by date of May 31-July 3.
Ground beef in sealed tubes (1-, 3- and 5-pound sizes) and frozen ground beef patties sold in the frozen food aisle are not included in the recall.
Consumers who have questions about the recall may contact Kroger toll-free at 800-632-6900 or online at www.kroger.com/recalls.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Mesa man attacks his wife and her boyfriend after finding them in bed
A Mesa man is in custody after being arrested after he pulled a knife on his wife and another man.Police say Eugene Terrazas Jr. came home Thursday and found his wife and her boyfriend in bed together.
Reports say Terrazas threw the man into a computer and then pulled a knife threatening to kill him if he ever came back.
Terrazas and his wife have been married for three years, but even though they're still married police said she's been living in half-way homes for most of that time.
Paying to much for gas? Faulty gas pumps ripping off consumers
Faulty gas pumps ripping off consumers
As if you weren't already paying through the nose at the pumps, many consumers might be paying more than they should be.
About 9 percent of the gas pumps looked at by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures since last July failed their inspections.
That means pump operators were shorting customers on gas or overcharging them either by starting the price meter before the gas started to flow or letting the meter continue to run after the flow had stopped.
Stations that fail inspections are fined, but that's not much incentive to fix problem pumps as they are only inspected once every three years.
As if you weren't already paying through the nose at the pumps, many consumers might be paying more than they should be.
About 9 percent of the gas pumps looked at by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures since last July failed their inspections.
That means pump operators were shorting customers on gas or overcharging them either by starting the price meter before the gas started to flow or letting the meter continue to run after the flow had stopped.
Stations that fail inspections are fined, but that's not much incentive to fix problem pumps as they are only inspected once every three years.
Wildfire shifts away from Crown King toward Horse Thief Basin
UPDATE:
Things are looking a little better for the town of Crown King Wednesday morning. Manpower fighting the Lane 2 fire was bumped up to 450.
Wind gusts and storm activity caused the fire to grow. It has now burned more than 7,000 acres. While the wind whipped up the flames, it also pushed the fire away from Crown King.
That means another area is now the focus for firefighters Wednesday -- Horse Thief Basin.
Fire officials said the Lane 2 Fire is now about 5 percent contained.
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