During August, the Arizona Department of Public Safety seized $623,933 in drug money, the agency announced Tuesday.The money came from traffic stops. The most money came Aug. 2, when a K-9 officer stopped a Ford pickup truck for a traffic violation on Interstate 40 near Flagstaff, DPS said.A police dog searched the truck and found $347,435 hidden in the vehicle’s spare tire.DPS Director Roger Vanderpool said drug couriers continue to pass through Arizona with cash, drugs and weapons.
Author ArchiveSchool: Florence High trio attempts robberySeptember 7th, 2007, 5:48 pm by christianricharThree Florence High School students allegedly were involved in an attempted armed robbery at a local business on Thursday, according to a letter sent home to parents from Florence High School administrators on Friday.Off duty Department of Corrections officers foiled the robbery and alerted the Florence Police Department.But two of the suspects fled the scene and returned to school with police in pursuit. They were taken into custody at school. No weapons were found. Chandler police union backs LovejoySeptember 6th, 2007, 4:35 pm by christianricharA Chandler police union is backing Sgt. Tom Lovejoy, calling the Maricopa County sheriff’s decision to charge him with animal cruelty "weak at best and completely outside the realm of being fair and reasonable." On Wednesday, Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced that Lovejoy, a Chandler police dog handler, had been arrested on the misdemeanor becuase he was reckless when he left the dog in his police vehicle for 13 hours.On Aug. 11, Bandit, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, died after Lovejoy came home, left him in the car, and didn’t discover him until 10:10 p.m.Association President Paul R. Babeu said Bandit’s death was a tragedy and said he would be missed. But, Babeu said, "we are confident Sgt. Lovejoy’s actions do not rise to reckless behavior as required in charging and fail to meet the requirement for a criminal act." Are you prepared?September 5th, 2007, 10:06 am by christianricharValley agencies on Saturday will be at the Chandler Fashion Center, located near Loop 101 and Chandler Boulevard, to talk about emergency preparedness.September is national preparedness month, according to Chandler fire spokesman Dan Couch. The Chandler Fire Department is sponsoring the event.Along with learning how to be prepared for natural and man-made disasters, people can receive information on how citizens can help when there is an emergency.Firefighters from Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa will be there. The Chandler Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona National Guard, American Red Cross, and Salvation Army will also have personnel on site.For more information about being prepared as well as having an emergency kit and plan go to www.ready.gov. More Chandler cameras now looking for speedersSeptember 4th, 2007, 4:53 pm by christianricharThree more speed-on-green cameras were recently turned on along Arizona Avenue in Chandler.Cameras on Arizona Avenue at the intersections of Elliot, Warner and Ocotillo roads were activated on Aug. 30, Chandler police spokesman Sgt. Rick Griner said Tuesday.For the first 30 days, police will issue warnings for most speeders. Those driving 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit will be ticketed and could face a fine.And, starting Oct. 1, all drivers traveling 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit will receive a ticket at these intersections.On July 25, the Chandler Police Department began using its first speed-on-green camera at Arizona Avenue and Ray Road to give out tickets. A 30-day warning period before then caught 2,284 drivers speeding, resulting in 1,309 people receiving a warning in the mail.The city has said it will put up 12 speed-on-green cameras. AHS decides not to collect Vick paraphernaliaAugust 23rd, 2007, 2:34 pm by christianricharThe Arizona Humane Society is now asking the public to NOT send Michael Vick apparel its way and said Thursday that it won’t be selling the paraphernalia on eBay.Earlier in the week, the group had said it would sell the donated clothing and that the proceeds would help abused and injured pit bull terriers, which the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback has been accused of using in illegal dog fights.AHS spokeswoman Kim Noetzel said that they decided Wednesday not to proceed because some people thought it would be in poor taste. AHS to sell Vick jerseys on eBayAugust 21st, 2007, 3:14 pm by christianricharThe Arizona Humane Society is asking those with Michael Vick apparel to forward the goods to its offices so the clothing can be sold on eBay.The proceeds will help abused and injured pit bull terriers, which the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback has been accused of using in illegal dog fights.Beginning Friday and continuing through Aug. 31, the Arizona Human Society will collect the goods. Clothing that cannot be sold will be used as bedding for hospital animals.This year the Arizona Humane Society has taken in and treated 986 pit bulls. Many of the dogs had signs of being used in dog fights and others were sick or injured, the humane society said.Unwanted Vick gear such as jerseys and T-shirts can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Arizona Humane Society has two locations where the drop off can be made. One is at 1521 W. Dobbins Road and the other is at 9226 N. 13th Ave. K-9 dies in line of dutyAugust 21st, 2007, 12:32 pm by christianrichar
Golfer hit in head with golf ballAugust 20th, 2007, 4:15 pm by christianricharA 52-year-old man was hit in the forehead with a golf ball in Gilbert on Saturday and flown by helicopter to the hospital.The man had been playing on the fifth hole fairway at 5:34 p.m. at a golf course in the 5000 block of South Peachwood Drive, according to the Gilbert Fire Department.He had two lacerations to the middle of his forehead and was transported by medical helicopter to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital. Motorcyclist sentenced to 3 yearsAugust 20th, 2007, 3:47 pm by christianricharA motorcyclist who drove at more than 160 mph through a crosswalk near a Mesa school was sentenced Monday to three years in prison.Mathew Englebeck, 20, plead guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and unlawful flight from law enforcement officers during his Monday appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court, said the Arizona Department of Public Safety.Englebeck on April 2 first was spotted on his Honda speeding about 140 mph at 7 a.m. on U.S. 60 near Mesa Drive, authorities said.After exiting the freeway, he then drove through a crosswalk near Whittier Elementary School. After 30 minutes he abandoned the motorcycle near Rio Salado and the Loop 101.Officers found him a short time later in a nearby apartment complex and arrested him. |
Rico, a police canine that had been chasing suspects Monday night, was struck by a semitrailer and killed near Benson.At 7:10 p.m., the Arizona Department of Public Safety was attempting to stop a pickup truck for speeding on Interstate 10.After the officer turned on his emergency lights the driver accelerated and police pursued, DPS Sgt. Tim Mason said Tuesday. The driver then pulled off the road and two people bailed from the vehicle.The officer found a large amount of marijuana in the truck and deployed Rico to assist in the foot chase.The officer caught the first person but lost sight of Rico, who had returned to the area of the DPS patrol car, Mason said.The second person was arrested but at some point Rico ran onto the interstate and was struck and killed.The suspects, Miguel Angel Mendivil Noreiga, 25, and C. Marco Antonio Miranda Siqueiros, 29, were arrested.Both men were illegal immigrants from Mexico, Mason said. The vehicle contained 967 pounds of marijuana and booked into jail on suspicion of transporting marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.Rico had been with the K-9 unit for four years and had been recognized as one of the most successful dogs in the department’s history, Mason said.During his career, Rico was responsible for the seizure of about 68,000 pounds of marijuana, five pounds of heroin, 86 pounds of cocaine, 95 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly $1 million, Mason said.