Archive for October, 2008
October 23rd, 2008, 1:40 pm by Nick R. Martin
The FBI has released a photograph of one of the letters that helped ignite a bioterrorism scare at financial institutions and banks yesterday nationwide, including at two banks in the East Valley. “Steal tens of thousands of people’s money and not expect repercussions,” said the letters. “It’s payback time. What you just breathed in will kill you within 10 days. Thank (unreleased) and the FDIC for your demise.”
All the letters were mailed from Amarillo, Texas, according to the FBI. In total, some 50 letters were sent to banks, the FDIC and the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision. The language in each is identical, the FBI said. The photographed letter was sent to a Chase Bank in Colorado.
The FBI is asking anybody with information about the language or letters to call (800) 225-5324 or (800) CALLFBI.
UPDATE (2 p.m.): In a news release sent out this afternoon, the local office of the FBI says the powder sent to the Chase Banks in Arizona has been tested and was found to be non-hazardous.
Photos courtesy FBI.
Posted in: Gilbert • Mesa | 2 Comments »
October 23rd, 2008, 1:04 pm by Mike Branom
The body of a Chicago man has been recovered from below the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Richard D. Jenkins, 58, appeared to have fallen 300 feet, the National Park Service said. Park rescue personnel recovered the body east of Yavapai Point on Wednesday afternoon.
The Park Service is investigating the death.
Jenkins was found after an abandoned duffle bag was turned in at the South Rim’s Yavapai Observation Station. Responding rangers were shown where the duffle bag was found; and while searching the area, saw Jenkins’ body below the rim.
Posted in: Arizona | Post a Comment »
October 23rd, 2008, 10:02 am by Mike Branom
Mesa police are searching for three men suspected in a home invasion robbery.
One victim sustained minor injuries during Wednesday evening’s incident at an apartment in the 1000 block of South Stewart Street, north of Fiesta Mall. Also, a laptop computer was stolen.
According to police, around 6:40 p.m. a man known by the name “Meteo” arrived at victims’ apartment looking for an ex-roommate of theirs. Meteo said the ex-roommate owed him money for drugs.
After a few minutes, Meteo unlocked the apartment’s front door, pulled out a black handgun and demanded money. That’s when the two other suspects entered.
The three men assaulted the two occupants before fleeing, with Meteo grabbing the laptop on the way out.
Police describe Meteo as a white male in his 30s, 6 feet tall with a skinny build and short brown hail. He was wearing khaki shorts.
The second suspect is a white male in his late 20s, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with his shaggy brown hair in a ponytail. He was wearing a large blue T-shirt and jeans.
The third man is Hispanic, also in his late 20s, standing 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He wore a white tank top and silver basketball shorts, and had tattoos on his face near both eyes.
Posted in: Mesa | 2 Comments »
October 22nd, 2008, 11:21 am by Devon Hersom
 Acosta A would-be purse snatcher dragged his victim across a Wal-Mart parking lot Tuesday after she refused to let go of her bag during a strong-armed robbery, police say.
The 42-year-old victim was loading her vehicle with purchases at 5:30 when the suspect attacked her at 1725 W. Hunt Highway, according to Pinal County sheriff’s office spokeswoman Vanessa White. The suspect, Manuel De Jesus Acosta, snatched the woman’s purse and ran towards a waiting vehicle.
As Acosta jumped into the passenger seat, the victim was able to grab her purse through the open door. The driver of the vehicle pulled away, dragging her for 10 feet, according to the police report.
After viewing store security cameras and interviewing witnesses, police were able to track down 18-year-old Acosta in Coolidge. Based on interviews with Acosta, driver Yesenia Marie Perez and passenger Emilio Lopez Jr., police determined that the group, plus two other members in the vehicle, were a part of a “criminal syndicate,” the report states.
Acosta admitted that two people in the group committed a Glendale robbery the same day and told police that the group commits robberies for gas and drug money, the report said.
Acosta faces charges of aggravated assault, robbery and involvement in a criminal syndicate, White said. Perez has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault, endangerment and involvement in a criminal syndicate.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
October 22nd, 2008, 11:09 am by Mike Branom
A missing Chandler teen has been found unharmed.
Deanna Bedal, 15, had not been seen since early Tuesday. But police said Wednesday morning she had been located safe and sound.
No further details were available.
Posted in: Chandler | Post a Comment »
October 21st, 2008, 6:37 pm by Eddi Trevizo
A Tempe man who allegedly punched a security guard in the head outside a popular Mill Avenue venue was arrested by police Tuesday morning.
Michael D. Gutierrez, 27, was asked to leave Zuma Grill for disorderly behavior inside the business, but was arrested around 12:30 a.m. when he returned and attacked a Zuma Grill security guard, Tempe police said.
Police say the guard was standing at the front door when he was attacked.
Gutierrez was arrested and booked into Tempe City jail on suspicion of disorderly conduct and misdemeanor assault.
Posted in: Uncategorized | Post a Comment »
October 21st, 2008, 5:01 pm by Devon Hersom
A Maricopa County sheriff’s detective became a target of an attempted hit-and-run Tuesday afternoon after stumbling across three men filling a car with expensive items near a Queen Creek home, police say.
The MCSO detective discovered the men as they jumped into a silver BMW or Infiniti and attempted to run over the officer, according to MCSO spokesman Doug Matteson. The officer fired at the vehicle before it swerved and attempted to strike the officer again, Matteson said.
The suspects led MCSO, Gilbert and Pinal County sheriff’s officers on a car chase through Queen Creek and into Pinal County on Rittenhouse Road. While being chased, the men threw dozens of items from the vehicle, including flat screen televisions, camcorders and car rims, he said.
During the chase, the suspect’s vehicle hit three law enforcement units, injuring one deputy.
The car came to stop at Rittenhouse and Combs roads when the vehicle crashed into a residential area. All three men fled on foot and were eventually apprehended, Matteson said. Another deputy was injured during the arrests.
At this time, the identities of the suspects have not been released. An assault rifle was found among the items that remained within the vehicle, he said.
Matteson said the unidentified trio may be connected to several southeast Valley burglaries.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
October 21st, 2008, 10:22 am by Mike Branom
A bicyclist was critically injured while riding Hunt Highway on Tuesday when he was clipped by a passing sport-utility vehicle.
Following the 6 a.m. incident, the 37-year-old man was transported by helicopter to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said.
No further details, including the victim’s name, were immediately available.
Authorities said the man was riding a motorized bicycle westbound on the shoulder of Hunt between Thompson Road and Ellsworth Road. That’s when he was struck by a Ford Bronco, driven by an 18-year-old.
The vehicle was traveling at the speed limit, 45 mph, if not slower, while the bicycle was going about 25 mph, authorities said.
The driver, who stopped and called 911, does not face any charges, authorities said.
Posted in: Pinal County • Scottsdale | 8 Comments »
October 20th, 2008, 3:32 pm by Mike Branom
Surveillance undertaken by Chandler police paid off with the arrest of an accused serial burglar last week.
When 32-year-old Kenneth Neil Aceves was taken into custody at his Phoenix residence, police said, investigators found evidence linking him to the crimes and a stolen custom-built dragster worth $80,000.
Aceves was booked into jail Wednesday on a number of counts, including burglary, identity theft, possession of stolen credit cards, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft.
Police said the theft of a vehicle four months ago led investigators to identity Aceves as a lead. Detectives conducted surveillance on Aceves and then connected him to four vehicle burglaries and a stolen vehicle.
Posted in: Chandler • Phoenix | 9 Comments »
October 20th, 2008, 11:42 am by Gary Grado
A suspected armed robber took it on the chin in an attempted hold up of a 54-year-old woman Saturday.
According to police reports, Michael Anthony Marcellino, 60, concealed a stun gun in a beanie as he robbed the woman of her purse in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, 4505 E. McKellips Road.
A 40-year-old good Samaritan came to the woman’s rescue, however, and punched Marcellino in the face and got the purse back.
Mesa police were able to respond quickly and arrest Marcellino, who suffered a large cut under his eye.
Posted in: Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
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