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assault bank robbery battery felony Personal Injury

Phoenix Robberies With Assault

Robberies in Phoenix On the Rise

Phoenix Robberies, Missing Suspects

Good ol’ Phoenix never lacks on the robbery department. They seem to keep pretty busy with that. Sadly, when you’re that close to the border it’s bound to happen.

According to the Phoenix Police, they are now looking for a man who had threatened a  sporting goods store last week. They threatened the store with a bomb during an attempted robbery.

According to a Silent Witness, he or she saw a man and he or she was carrying a box. The box went into the Big 5 Sporting Goods store, which is now located on Thomas Road, on December 3rd.

The suspect demanded that the clerk give him money, however when the female cashier refused, the suspect said that there was a bomb in a box outside.

According to the reports, the box was left behind after the male suspect had left the store. The police officers that got to the scene and investigated seem to think that it wasn’t in danger at anytime.

The police said that the suspect was a white male. Authorities believe the man was fifty-five years old. He’s a rather small man, being around five foot and eight inches tall. Weighing around one hundred ninety pounds. In the security footage, the suspect was last seen wearing a black knit cap as well as a black and white plaid shirt and dark pants.  At least he color coordinated, I guess.

Silent Witness is offering up to one thousand dollars for the information that would help solve the case. If you have any information, please contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

Mysterious Robberies, Jack in the Box

Robberies, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are quiet and relatively peaceful, some are flamboyant and well thought out. However, this most recent Phoenix robbery can only be described as “brazen”. The robbery was caught on camera at the Valley Jack in the Box.

Chandler Police are shocked and thankful that no one was hurt and that the crime wasn’t any worse than what happened.

The Chandler Police have recently released a video on their Facebook page. They are asking for the public’s help in tracking down this robbery suspect.

According to the report, the man could be seen entering the door behind the counter, with a ski mask on his face and his hood up. You could also see a gun in his hand.

Customer, Ed Schossow’s Statement:

I would have shot him, without a doubt. This is exactly why I carry a concealed weapon.

According to the report, the video surveillance was showed to several of the customers outside of the store on Friday night. Schossow says that seeing crimes, is the reason that he’s always prepared. He always carries a concealed weapon on him.

After watching the video, police think that the suspect actually looks as if he was “inexperienced” with a weapon. He even dropped the clip and then reloads the gun.

Chandler Police Detective, Seth Tyler Statement:

Just the recklessness, we are very lucky we didn’t have an accidental discharge, This suspect maybe cased this restaurant, was able to determine times it wasn’t busy.

The man took the cash from one drawer and then demanded the next. In the video, your can see an employee who was forced to open another drawer.

Schossow’s Statement:

I feel sorry for them, I mean, it’s a scary situation.

 

The man grabs as much money as he can with his free hand. He dropped quite a bit off it one his way out the doors. Which is totally dumb, he should have at least had a container to carry the money.

The police description

The suspect is described as a light skinned man, between the ages of 16 to 25. He is five feet, five inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs between 135-155 pounds.

Sexual Assault Plus Robbery

Phoenix Police are looking for a suspect they believe to be in connection to an armed robbery. The suspect reportedly also tried to sexually assault a woman at a tax business.

The police say that the victim had just came back from visiting the bank when the suspect came into the business which is located near 33rd Street and Indian School road, who pulled a gun on her.

Another Sexual Assault Robbery Case

According to reports, a suspect tied and gagged a woman before he reportedly took off her bra and then tried to assault her.

The police say that when the sick perv suspect, noticed the security cameras he stopped his assault and took off with the money.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic or possibly a Native American. He’s around six foot tall and was wearing white gloves as well as a black hoodie.

The investigating officers say that the surveillance take did a good job and likely prevented something worse from happening.  The police is continuing the investigation and checking to see if the cameras were functional. Which, they must have been if the tape showed that.

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drug possesion felony Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Rules and Problems

Medical Marijuana Money Seized

North County Doesn’t Agree with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

 

North County city council has now taken the steps to make sure that their community stays free of medical Marijuana dispensaries.

On a Tuesday evening, the San Marcos city council members have unanimously approved the introduction to a possible ordinance that would not allow the cultivation, delivery or the sale of medical marijuana.

The choice came from the anticipation of the bills that are being signed by Governor, Jerry Brown. Which would regulate Cannabis in the state. Not long ago, Governor Brown actually singed a trio of bills that would regulate medical marijuana in California.

The bills would be creating the first statewide licensing and operating rules for pot growers as well as manufacturers of cannabis-infused projects and even retail weed outlets. This is due to the fact that California voters have already legalized the use of medical marijuana back in 1996.

But just because California has legalized the use of medical marijuana, the state regulations, the cities will have until March 2016 to make their own legislation for the sales of medical marijuana.

According to reports, San Marcos has already decided to ban the medical marijuana dispensaries in 2006, however the city council had made the decision by vote, on placing a band in anticipation of next year’s deadline.

The meeting went rather well, despite the very controversial subject at hand. The council members were able to address the concerns about the medical marijuana sales, would also included the mobile marijuana dispensaries.

The public doesn’t seem to mind, since there was no opposition to the ordinance from the public present at the council meeting.

San Marcos is not alone in it’s battle against medical marijuana dispensaries, other local cities are joining in to hopefully prohibit the sale of medical marijuana. El Cajon is following behind San Marcos in hopes to keep the dispensaries out of their cities.

 

New Bills Bring Order to Medical Marijuana Industry

 

Governor Jerry Brown will be introducing three new bills which are all aimed at bringing order and oversight to California’s medical marijuana industry. Which some might be saying what? Because California was the first stated to legalize marijuana for medical use nearly twenty years ago.

The Democratic governor’s endorsement of the lengthy, seventy page Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act was hammered out by the lawmakers in the last little bit of the legislative session. They say it was expected due to the fact that his office had created so many exhaustive details in the bill.

The bills were made to create the first statewide licensing and operating rules for the pot growers. But not only the pot growers but for the manufacturers of anything made with cannabis as well as retail weed outlets.

The proposal’s enactment happens after many groups have tried to qualify voter initiatives for the November 2016 ballot that would legalize recreation marijuana in California.

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom has been vocal about his supporting the idea of allowing adults to use marijuana for fun. Brown, did not think that was a good idea. Newsom said that getting the state’s free-wheeling medical marijuana industry under control would ease the transition to a system that would also address the recreation use of the marijuana.

Newsom’s Quote about Marijuana:

Given the history and complexity of California’s market, achieving the people’s will and responsibly regulating marijuana will be a process that unfolds over many years, requiring sustained attention to implementation.

 

According to the bill, the package would seek to manage the medical marijuana by “requiring individuals or companies” that engage in any aspect of the industry to obtain at least one of 17 different possible licenses. It would also restrict the number of licenses one company could have.

The legislation would cover all of its bases, by also including a separate license for the indoor and outdoor cultivation, transportation, product testing, distribution, as well as for the dispensaries of different sizes. It would also charge various state agencies to develop guidelines for packing, potency, pesticide, as well as the use and advertising.

The bills would also preserve the right of the individuals who would want to grow small amounts of medical marijuana for personal use. It would allow the local governments to ban or tax marijuana related businesses.

Steven Lubell (Former Superior Court Commissioner) statement:

It was well-written. It was well thought-out. It flows,The industry, I think, wants this. They want to do what they have to do to run it like any other business.

According to the American Medical Marijuana Association, there is an advocacy group for the medical marijuana patients. That advocacy group plans to sue and overturn the legislation.  The group also says that sever parts of the bills, illegally amends the 1996 voter initiative that legalized it in the first place.

The state expects to start issuing the licenses to the medical marijuana suppliers and distributors in 2018. Should give it plenty of time to get things worked out and the companies to get their facilities up and running properly and legally.

The legislation includes: AB266 by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, which sets up a medical marijuana bureau; AB243 by Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, which allows the state to issue licenses to pay for oversight; and SB643 by Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, which cracks down on clinics that specialize in issuing medical marijuana licenses for people without valid health needs.

 

 

 

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Categories
assault Personal Injury

Sexual Assault Cases in Phoenix

Sexual Assault Cases in Phoenix

Phoenix Sexual Assault Crimes

 

All crimes are pretty bad and one or multiple people get hurt. Sexual assault takes a whole new onslaught of issues. Sexual assault doesn’t only mean physical assault but a sexual assault also brings on some serious mental situations. The physical aspect of assault usually always heals, however the mental issues are there permanently.

 

The first example of sexual assault I’ll be writing about is a work environment sexual assault. These are sadly not uncommon. Some people try to use their ranking to get special privileges. Some might just find someone attractive and jump the gun and get a little too frisky for the victim’s liking.

 

First Sexual Assault Example

 

A Phoenix hospital is the last place anyone would think of being sexually assaulted. Most of the time, hospitals are a safe haven for people. However, a cafeteria worker has been arrested on allegations that he sexually assaulted a fellow female employee as she was washing dishes.

 

The court paperwork stated that forty-four year old, Jose Maria Claustro-Avila had thought that the female, victim employee was actually flirting with him during their shift at the cafeteria as cooks. He assumed it was ok to touch and kiss the female.

 

Mr. Claustro-Avila is employed as a cook at the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center cafeteria. The hospital is located near the Thomas Road and Central Avenues. The sexual assault incident was supposed to have happened on May 2nd of this year, close to seven or seven thirty.

 

Claustro-Avila did admit to the police that he did indeed hug the female victim from behind and also kissed her neck as well as her ear, he also admitted to grabbing one of her breasts according to the police paperwork.

 

The female victim told the police that she was shocked by her assaulter’s actions. She even ran out of the washroom.  Police of course did some investigating and found out that Claustro-Avila does have some family in California however he has no ties to the Valley area. Claustro-Avila was booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on one count of Sexual Abuse.

 

Dignity Health released the following statement through a spokesperson:

We are aware of this situation and are working with authorities to ensure that a complete and thorough investigation is conducted. St. Joseph’s takes the safety and security of all its patients, guests, and employees extremely seriously, and we are handling this matter in the same manner.

 

Another Example of Sexual Assault

 

Another, sadly common sexual assault is teacher/student assault. When a parent sends their child to school they expect them to be safe and well taken care of. That is sadly not always the case. It’s actually happening more and more even though schools take every precaution before allowing people or hiring people into the school.

 

When an adult, no matter if it’s a male or female or how much older takes an advantage of a child then that person definitley deserves to be judged and prosecuted for their sick crimes. A child should never have to go to school and worry about an adult touching or making them uncomfortable.

 

This story is I’m about to write about, is wrong. No matter if the elementary school teacher was young. A teacher at the Phoenix Elementary School has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a twelve year old student. The teacher however, pleaded not guilty. That’s sad a twelve year old has to deal with anything sexual at that age.

 

On Wednesday, twenty seven year old, Kenne Michael Worthen entered his not guilty plea, according to the Maricopa County prosecutors.

 

The young teacher was arrested in April for the suspicion of luring a minor, sexual conduct with a minor and child molestation.

 

Mr. Worthen teaches the sixth grade class at the Longview Elementary School. The officials from Longview say that Mr. Worthen was put on administrative leave and will not be returning to the school. I have a feeling that if Mr. Worthen is indeed guilty, he will not be returning to any school anytime soon, which is rightfully so.

 

The police say that the students have reported the relationship to a teacher. The teacher then immediately notified the school officials and the Phoenix Police. The police have stated that they arrested Worthen after the police saw some text messages between him and the young girl. They police say that the texts contained graphic sexual language.

 

The young girl told the investigators that she and the teacher, Mr. Worthen had sexual contact in April at the Longview after school program.

 

If your child has been sexually assaulted please remember that they are suffering. This situations is scary and probably makes them feel dirty and bad about themselves. If someone has harmed your child please encourage them to come forward, you don’t want the predator  to hurt others.

 

Please also encourage them to go to counseling. This can’t be easy for them and they probably feel very uncomfortable talking about it with a loved one. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone outside the family. And Besides, you probably want a profession who specializes in this sort of situation. You want to help, but you never know what could make things worse. So just be as caring and supportive as possible. Make sure they know you’re not mad and it’s not their fault.  Let them know it’s not ok what happened to them, and whoever did it needs to be put in jail. Let them know they aren’t alone. There are other people who have been sexually assaulted and you as family, will always be there fore them when ever they are ready to talk.

 

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assault bank robbery felony Personal Injury

Phoenix Robberies

Model Robbery

Phoenix Police Looking for Robbery Suspects

 

The Phoenix police are on the search for two young men who are suspected of robbing a Chandler Walmart  a few months ago.

According to the local authorities on July 30th there were two Hispanic males who had entered into a Walmart near the Alma School Road around seven, thirty in the evening.  They handed a note over to the cashier who was overseeing the self-checkout kiosks.

From the surveillance video, you can see the first suspect walk out of the Walmart store as the second suspect was waiting for the cashier to finish placing the money into a plastic bag.  The investigating police officers think that the male suspects were both between the ages of sixteen and twenty years old.

Police are asking that if anyone has any information about this robbery or the suspects then to please call the Chandler Police Department. They can be reached at 480-782-4130 or the Silent Witness program at 480-WITNESS.

 

Two Suspects Arrested for Robbery at Phoenix Bar

 

There are several suspects who are now in custody, this was after there was a robbery at a Phoenix bar.

The police officers with the Phoenix Police said that the two men had been trying to carjack a woman in front of a Dilly Dally Lounge at 36th Street and Indian School Road.

The men must have scared the woman nearly to death when they held her at gunpoint. However, they decided not to carjack her. Both of the men then went into the bar and got away with almost one hundred dollars. Talk about some crazy events. Luckily the woman wasn’t injured though.

The police were luckily able to catch up with the suspected men, not long after the incident. They were found near 40th Street and Thomas Road.

 

Another Robbery Case

 

There are several types of robberies. Bank Robberies, store robberies, robberies that lead to police chases.  A lot of robberies start out, with a threat and if everyone cooperates, then no one gets hurt. However, sometimes robberies turn deadly at the drop of a pin.

Police have luckily arrested a ban robbery suspect after he had led the police on a chase on a Monday evening around the Phoenix Valley.

 

Phoenix Robbery Cases

 

The Chandler police say that the bank robbery happened around three,thirty in the late afternoon. It happened at the National Bank of Arizona at the Chandler Boulevard and Kyrene Road.

According to the Chandler police, the suspect had walked into the bank and had a gun. He then demanded money. The suspect left the building and then got into a Chrysler Sebring, purple in color.

Witnesses quickly called 911 to report the incident, suspect, as well as the vehicle description. The officers then spotted the vehicle just four minutes later.

When the officers had tried to make a traffic stop, things got ugly. There were gunshots fired from the suspect and officers at this point, according to the police. A couple of the police vehicles were hit by gunshots, luckily no one was hurt though.

Officers the requested/got help from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Phoenix Police, Tempe Police, as well as the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The police have said that the robbery suspect had drove from the westbound on Interstate 10 to 7th Avenue and then later made his way to the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Washington Street.

The suspect wasn’t giving up easily. He drove to Tempe and then ended up on Mill Avenue near the University Drive. Then he got out of his vehicle and ran away from his car.

The police also said that the suspect was finally arrested around 4:45 in the evening. He was arrested at the AMC Centerpoint 11 movie theater.

ABC15 NEWS Crews were on the scene and said that the police had found the gun that was involved in the robbery, there was also the money from the bank found inside of the movie theater.

 

 

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Categories
assault battery Homicide Personal Injury Traumatic Brain Injury Wrongful Death

Multiple Types of Murder Cases

Phoenix Domestic Abuse

Murder Crimes Near Phoenix

 

There are of course several types of murder. The most disturbing and unfathomable, in my opinion anyways, is Familicide. What is Familcide? It’s a term used when there is a multiple victim homicide where the killer’s spouse and children are killed.

 

Definition from Wikipedia

A familicide is a type of murder or murder-suicide in which at least one spouse and one or more children are killed,[1] or in which a parent or parents and possibly other relatives such as siblings and grandparents are killed.[2] In some cases all of the family members’ lives are taken. If only the parents are killed, the case may also be referred to as a parricide. Where all members of a family are killed, including when the killing takes the form of a murder-suicide, the crime may be referred to as family annihilation.

 

The cases I’ll be writing about today are similar but different. This first case is a lot like a familicide case.  The police have been able to identify the man who had been accused of decapitating a woman and two dogs. The man identified was identified as, Kenneth Wakefield.

 

The Phoenix Police Department are always helpful to the media. They have said that Wakefield was actually released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. However, she was booked for a one count of 1st degree murder as well as two counts of animal cruelty. She was being held on a TWO million dollar bond money.

The believe that the suspect is known to have some physics and mental issues.  The two doggies were sadly found dead in the home.

 

On July 25th, the police had found the horrible crime scene. Which was located near 13th Place and Colter Street. They were able to easily locate the scene after a neighbor had went to check on the suspect and the victim. The neighbor knew that the suspect had mental issues.

 

The neighbor was quite shocked when, according to them, when the suspect, Wakefield had answered the door and the neighbor said that he was naked and also had a portion of his arm was cut off. Wakefield was a scary sight with his missing arm,and  missing right eye that was gouged out.

 

Wakefield didn’t try to deny what had happened. He admitted to the police officers that he had killed three of his own family members which were inside of the house.

 

Sadly, when Heisch was found she was decapitated as well as the dogs and in a closet. I feel so sorry for the victims and the police that found them I can’t imagine what a horrific scene that would have been.

 

The suspect was taken to the local hospital and had to undergo surgeries for his injuries. He was later released to the police after he was all fixed up.

 

Spouse Abuse or Murder?

 

Everyone has fights once and a while. If you’re married and have been for a while, chances are you might feel like killing one another on those stressful days. Only some people actually attempt to act on those wishes.

 

A woman had to be submitted to the hospital after the police claimed that her husband had shot her inside of their Mesa Home.

 

The Mesa Police Department said that they responded to a call that came out, just after six o’clock in the evening. The call came from an upscale gated community of “Las Sendas”. Las Sendas is located near the McDowell and Power Roads.

 

 

Police are keeping quiet about this scene. They are releasing very little information about what happened. However, they have said that the couple’s two children were inside of the house at the time of the shooting. Those poor kids must have been scared to death! The police say that the couple’s children are a young girl and an adult son. Hopefully the adult son can shed some light on the situation.

 

The police also say that the woman who was shot, is now in the hospital. Hopefully she will make a full recovery. The husband of the victim has been taken in for questioning. However, he has not been formally charged at this time.

 

The Mesa Police Department are now on the case and are investigating the incident.

 

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battery Homicide Personal Injury Wrongful Death

Past Murder Case Being Re-Evaluated

Past Murder Case Being Re-Evaluated

2007 Bus Driver Murder Case

 

Crime scenes are often left as a mystery. Sadly there are some sick people in this world and they are very good at covering their tracks. Some cases go unsolved simply for the lack of evidence. There’s actually a ton of reasons that murder cases go “unsolved” or unresolved.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) have confirmed that a man who was/is suspected of killing an off-duty bus driver at a San Diego doughnut shop, eight years ago will now face charges in the cold case.

The SDPD investigators have said that forty year old, Santiago Covarrubias will be facing murder charges for the 2007 killing of thirty-eight year old, Damon Green. Covarrubias has already been serving time in the state prison for other, unrelated homicide. The police found the information linking Covarrubias to the cold case while Covarrubias was still in prison. According to the SDPD, Covarrubias is now in custody in the San Diego Central Jail and will appear in court on a Monday.

According to the reports, Covarrubias is actually the second person to be linked to this murder case this year. The case was strangely enough cold for more than eight years. I guess when the information comes, it comes all at once.

On July 28th of this year, San Diego resident, Martin Villapando was arrested by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The thirty-six year old was arrested as he was legally entering into the United States. He was then jailed on first degree murder for the connection of Green’s killing.

The court reports show that Villapando pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The judge set his bail at $2 million. Villapando has been in custody and at the South Bay Detention Facility for around four months. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 17.

 

Bus Driver Shoot and Killed

 

The investigators say that Green was found critically injured and was found behind the Donuts Plus shop. The shop is located at 4090 El Cajon Blvd. Green was found around 2:30 in the early morning on March 20, 2007. The reports say that the man had suffered from several gunshot wounds to his torso. Green was quickly taken to a local hospital where he sadly passed away an hour later.

The investigating detectives think that Green was with a friend and eating at the taco shop which is next door to the doughnut shop, when Green got into the argument with Villapando and Covarrubias. Villapando and Covarrubias were the first ones to leave the taco shop.

 

Crime in San Diego

 

However, the two sneaksters came back as Mr. Green and his friend were leaving the shop. They didn’t come alone though, they came armed with a gun. The suspects confronted, unarmed Green outside of the doughnut shop. They started shooting at Green. Green ran into the doughnut shop to try to seek cover, however according to the detectives, shots were fired and went through the plate glass window. The shot fired that time would be the one to fatally wound Mr.Green.

The suspects were of course, quick to leave the scene. They made their getaway before the officers could respond to the call. The suspects were last seen on the northbound 41st Street. After Villapando was arrested over the summer Deputy District Attorney Supervisor of the Cold Case Homicide Unit, Tom Manning said that the cold case detectives had been actively working on this case for years. They had even talked to Villapando before about Green’s murder.

 

Manning’s Statement about the Murder

 

The police have had continuous contact with witnesses, including Mr. Villapando over the years. He knew San Diego Police detectives were continuing on the case and were also looking at him over the last few years.

 

If Mr. Villapando is convicted of Green’s murder he will face up to fifty years to life in prison.

Sybil Green, mother of deceased victim, said that the news of a arrest for her son’s killers over the summer brought her a wave of emotions. Which I’m sure is understandable. She probably feels the pain of losing her son all over, but some relief that something is being done about his death. But then probably guilty over someone else losing their life. I can’t imagine what she’s going through.

Sybil said that the day her son was tragically killed, was the “day her heard died”. And even though it’s been a few years, her family will always mourn for the loss of her son.

 

Sybil’s Statment:

You murder one person, but you slaughter a family because our family has not been the same since.

The family of Green are currently living in Las Vegas. Sybil said that she has always refused to believe that the killer of her son would actually get away with it. She’s looking forward to finally getting some justice for her son. She always refers to Green as her “gentle giant”.

Green didn’t just leave his mother behind though, he is survived by two sons and a daughter.  All because of a little dispute in a taco shop. Hopefully his loving family can get some peace, knowing that Green’s death isn’t going to go unpunished.

We hope that the police are able to get the crime rates down in San Diego and Phoenix. If not, what is going to be left for the families in those cities?

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