The alleged “Cookie Bandit,” accused in nine armed robberies in Awahtukee and Tempe, has been arrested, police said Thursday.
Henry Diaz Jr., 28, was taken into custody by Phoenix police.
Diaz is accused of entering sandwich shops and restaurants in the area of 48 Street and Ray Road, displaying a sawed-off shotgun and demanding money. The most recent robbery took place at a Papa John’s on Monday night.
The suspect got the “Cookie Bandit” nickname because he asked employees at a Subway if they had any cookies.
Authorities from Phoenix and Tempe will be discussing the arrest during a press conference at noon.
Archive for the 'Ahwatukee Foothills' CategoryPhoenix police say they’ve arrested “Cookie Bandit”October 30th, 2008, 11:34 am by Mike BranomPolice: Man sells stolen weapons on MySpaceJuly 24th, 2008, 4:39 pm by Devon HersomA 20-year-old Ahwatukee man, who advertised stolen weapons for sale on his MySpace page and bragged about his numerous neighborhood burglaries, was arrested by the Department of Public Safety on two counts of misconduct involving theft, weapons and burglary on Wednesday. A DPS release states that Justin Christoffers tried to jump over the wall in his mother’s backyard when members of the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) came to arrest him at her home. Christoffers is a convicted felon, the release said, and DPS believes he is a suspect in several burglaries in the area east of the intersection of 48th Street and Elliot Road, where the arrest occurred. The release said that Christoffers may also be charged with being in possession of firearms. Man gets 2 life sentences for Ahwatukee stab murdersMarch 21st, 2008, 4:45 pm by Nick R. MartinA man will spend the rest of his natural life in prison without the possibility of parole for stabbing to death two people and wounding another in an Ahwatukee Foothills apartment complex in 2004. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Friday spared the life of Matthew Cunningham, 30, whom prosecutors asked be put to death. In doing so, the judge sentenced Cunningham to two life terms, plus another seven and a half years for a burglary charge. Cunningham was convicted in February of killing his roommate, Robert Barker, and neighbor, Katherine Spain, in a wild stabbing spree. Another man, Gerardo Barrientos, was also stabbed but fought back with a baseball bat, critically injuring and almost killing Cunningham. Cunningham survived, only to face arrest and years of court that drew to a close on Friday. Read the Tribune’s original story of the crime: Two dead, one critical after stabbing spree (Oct. 13, 2004) Ahwatukee Foothills toddler found in pool, near deathDecember 23rd, 2007, 5:13 pm by Mike BranomA toddler is in extremely critical condition after he was pulled from a backyard pool in Ahwatukee Foothills on Sunday afternoon. The 2-year-old boy was unresponsive and did not have a pulse or a heartbeat when emergency crews arrived at 13427 S. 46th Way, Phoenix fire officials said. The child was transported to Desert Samaritan Hospital. According to authorities, the boy may have gone through a part of the pool fence that was broken. Family members said he was gone for less than five minutes. When the boy was discovered, his father did attempt CPR, officials said. Ahwatukee Foothill’s man carjackedOctober 28th, 2007, 9:15 pm by andrebowserAn Ahwatukee Foothills driver was carjacked by three armed men between the ages of 25 and 30 Saturday around 11:54 a.m. near the victim’s apartment, Phoenix police said. A gold 2000 Chrysler 300 was taken from the victim at gunpoint. The victim stopped at a Chevron store and then headed north on 50th Street, where he was boxed in by a dark blue Chevy Impala and a tan Toyota Corolla near Chandler Boulevard. “The victim believes he was followed from the gas station to his apartment block,” Lt. Robert Jones said. No one was injured during the incident, Jones said. The victim reported the incident. His car has not been recovered, police said. Writer Heidi Curiel contributed to this blog. Crash kills motorcyclist on I-10October 20th, 2007, 11:07 am by Jill RedhageA motorcyclist died Friday night in a crash on Interstate 10 near Ray Road. Department of Public Safety officials said traffic on the highway slowed for an unknown reason, causing the motorcyclist to run into the back of a tractor-trailer. Officers said the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials closed eastbound lanes of the highway between Ahwatukee Foothills and Chandler after the 6:30 p.m. crash. The lanes reopened shortly before 10 p.m. Further details weren’t immediately available. |