Author ArchiveMotorcyclist crashes at 100 mphJanuary 16th, 2008, 1:36 pm by daryljamesTwo motorcyclists were traveling more than 100 mph early Wednesday on Loop202 when one of them crashed, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said in an e-mail. Graves said the crash happened just after midnight as the motorcyclist was merging from westbound Loop 202 onto state Route 143 in Phoenix. Graves said the motorcyclist suffered injuries that were not life threatening. Fountain Hills church fire may be arsonJanuary 3rd, 2008, 11:54 am by daryljamesThe Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of a Wednesday evening fire that appeared to be intentionally set at the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church. The fire, which broke out at a wooden play set at the church at 13001 Fountain Hills Blvd., jumped from the swing set to the awning of a church classroom building nearby, said Fountain Hills spokeswoman Katie Decker. The fire caused $75,000 in damage. The fire was extinguished about 10 p.m. by crews from the Rural/Metro and Scottsdale fire departments, according to Decker. The fire extended into the church’s classroom building, affecting several classrooms and caused extensive damage to the roof,and smoke damage throughout the classrooms, according to Decker. No one was injured from the fire, and the church sanctuary was not a total loss, she said. No one at the church answered the phone for comment. Police find SUV used in salon owner’s abductionDecember 21st, 2007, 1:02 pm by daryljamesDetectives have located the sport utility vehicle used in Thursday’s abduction of a Mesa salon owner, police said. A news release from Mesa police indicates the vehicle was located Thursday evening and is being processed for possible evidence. Earlier Friday, police identified the kidnapping victim as Reynalda Valdez-Cardenas, 31. The business owner was handcuffed about 10:50 a.m. Thursday and forced into an SUV outside her hair salon near Alma School Road and Eighth Avenue. The business, Kendy’s Beauty Salon, remained closed Friday. Police said two male kidnappers placed Valdez-Cardenas into an older model Nissan Pathfinder and fled the scene. Police said the vehicle was found near the salon, but investigators declined to say exactly where they found the vehicle. Mesa detectives said they were following up on various leads Friday, and the investigation was ongoing. Employees at the hair salon said two men entered the store and displayed handguns before ordering them to the back room. Two of the women were ordered to stay in the back room while Valdez-Cardenas was ordered to leave with the men. The employees said they were not familiar with the gunmen. The first gunman was described as a Hispanic male about 18 to 20 years old wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a black baseball cap. The second suspect was a Hispanic male about 18 to 20 years old wearing jeans and a yellow shirt. Investigators ask anyone with information about the crime to call police at (480) 644-2211 or Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377. Sheriff Arpaio called to jury dutyDecember 20th, 2007, 10:09 am by daryljamesMaricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio reported to jury duty Thursday morning in downtown Phoenix. He said in a prepared statement that he was thriled with the call to civic duty, but he does not expect to make the final cut for a case assignment. “I have no excuses prepared to get out of serving,” Arpaio said. “In fact, I’d love to serve but I seriously doubt that anyone would want me on a jury in this county. Any criminal defense attorney would probably figure I’m a little too hard nosed to be considered impartial.” Arpaio is at the court building at 111 S. Third Street, where is he waiting for his name to be called to a courtroom, where a judge will question his worthiness as a jury member. Man beats daughter with switch, police sayDecember 7th, 2007, 12:21 pm by daryljamesTempe police arrested a man this week on suspicion of beating his daughter with a switch from a bush. Police records say Maurice Isaac Davis, 38, hit his daughter seven to 15 times on Nov. 30 with the switch, “causing extreme bruising to her buttocks and thighs.” Officers arrested Davis on Tuesday night on suspicion of child abuse. Police records list Davis as a Wal-Mart stocker. Gunman robs east Mesa service stationNovember 23rd, 2007, 10:59 am by daryljamesAn armed man robbed a Diamond Shamrock service station about 7:55 a.m. in east Detective Chris Arvayo said the man entered the store at and with a handgun and demanded money. Arvayo said a female driver waited outside the store in a getaway car, which witnesses described as a dark green or blue Hyundai Elantra. The couple left in the car with an undisclosed amount of money, Arvayo said. He described the robber as a white male in his 30s about 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. Arvayo said he wore a red baseball hat, blue shirt and blue jeans. Arvayo said the driver was a Hispanic female driver in her 20s with dark hair. Arvayo said no injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing. Gunmen rob Mesa man in home invasionNovember 9th, 2007, 3:26 pm by daryljamesTwo gunmen knocked on an apartment door Friday morning near Lindsay Road and University Drive and forced their way inside when the resident opened the door, police said. A Mesa police news release said the gunmen took property from the apartment at 3050 E. Cicero St. about 12:26 a.m. Police said no one was injured in the incident. Men in black rob T-Mobile storeNovember 9th, 2007, 3:26 pm by daryljamesTwo gunmen dressed in black entered a T-Mobile cell phone store Thursday evening and forced one employee and one customer into the office, police said. The gunmen emptied the store’s safe, which included new cell phones and cash, and then left about 7:15 p.m. in a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a black Honda. Police said in a news release that one gunman was a 5-foot-6 white male with light brown hair who weighed 150 to 160 pounds and appeared to be about 20. Police described the second gunman as a 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9 black man with a muscular build who also appeared to be about 20. Police said both suspects wore black pants, long-sleeve black shirts, black baseball caps, black gloves, and black bandanas covering their faces. The T-Mobile store was at 4401 E. McKellips Road in Mesa. Abused dog rescued in West ValleyOctober 11th, 2007, 11:03 am by daryljamesAn emaciated dog with signs of abuse was found Friday running the streets near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road, Maricopa County Animal Care spokeswoman Aprille Hollis said in a news release. Mesa police union issues immigration policyOctober 10th, 2007, 10:49 am by daryljamesThe Mesa Police Association issued a position statement Wednesday on illegal immigration enforcement. The statement reads: “The Mesa Police Association (MPA) acknowledges and supports our voter’s decision and federal laws of immigration enforcement; however, we are in need additional resources to provide the necessary protective services to the growing Mesa community. We are currently operating with a shortage of 200-300 police officers and no training from ICE, and are concerned about the tremendous legal liability and safety issues for our Mesa police officers. “The MPA supports Mesa Police Chief George Gascon on the continued efforts of reducing crime in the city of Mesa by focusing on arresting repeat offenders and patrolling areas where the most crimes are reported. “Lastly, the MPA encourages public officials to consider us a resource when passing legislative measures that include mandates for police departments.” |