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Child Abuse in the United States

Child Abuse in the United States

Phoenix Man Arrested for Child Abuse

To me, child abuse in any form is one of the lowest things a human being can do. Why on earth would someone want to hurt a child? I know that sometimes you just need a break and feel like you’re frustrated with the world, but to harm a child is horrible and inexcusable.

According to court documents, a Phoenix man is now facing child abuse charges. The charges accuse him of abusing his own two sons who were only 5 and 3 years old at the time.

The five year old boy went to school on January 26th and asked his teacher for some ice due to his eye hurting. The teacher immediately noticed the swelling and bruising to the young boy’s eye. The teacher did what any other person would do and reported it to the school counselor.

The young boy told the police that his father punched him in the face. How sad is that?! The boys father is thirty-nine year old William Terrell Harris. This wasn’t the only abuse the young boy described though. He said that his father also hit him with a belt and then pointed to his left back, rib section. His little ribs were also bruised and swollen.

The boy told the officer that his little brother was three years old and he was also being abused by their father.

Police also noticed that the three year old little boy had red welts and bruising on him. The welts looked like the marks of an “end tongue of a belt” on his outer knee and arm. What could a three year old have done to deserve such a beating?! Nothing!

Police acted fast and arrested the child abuser of a father the very next day at his apartment.

According to the court records, the father admitted to hitting the five year old little boy with a wet towel. He thought that is what actually caused the bruising. He was mad at the little guy because he only “put one sock on, instead of two”.

The father claimed he didn’t remember punching the child in the eye. However, he also didn’t deny that he did. He did say that he saw the injury to the young boys eye and he “pressed on it kinda hard”. Father of the year, folks!

Police say that the child abuse incidents happened while the children’s mother was a work.

The Department of Child Services took the two young boys into their custody and now the father is going to face two counts of child abuse.

 

Police Find Child Abuse Case Duct Taped in Closet

Mesa Police found a three year old child duct taped being kept in a closet on a Monday. According to the Mesa Police, the young child had to be taken to the local hospital so that he or she could be evaluated.

A man and a woman have been arrested in relation to this case. Their identities were not immediately released though.

Mesa Police Chief, John Meza, scheduled a news conference pretty quickly to discuss the case with the public.

Mesa Police Department Statement about The Child Abuse:

The arrest of any suspect involved in abuse or exploitation of any child is on the highest priority for the Mesa Police Department. Fortunately the child was recovered before any more additional harm could be done to her.

 

Abused Mesa Child Almost Saved

A former Walmart employee claims that the police missed an “opportunity to intervene” to save the life of a little girl who was being abused, when her mom was accused of shoplifting.

Jason Tilley worked in asset protection at the Greenfield Walmart in Mesa. On December 18th the police were called to the store about a woman who was trying to shoplift some food as well as some other items at the Walmart.

The woman was twenty-two year old, Mayra Solis. Jason Tilley said that the three year old little girl that was with Solis was dirty and also smelled like urine during Solis’ shoplifting incident.

The Mesa police say that the officers at the scene noticed that the little girl was somewhat dirty and bought her some cookies. However, they didn’t think it was appropriate to intervene with social services or report the young family to the state. The officers did cite Solis for shoplifting.

Tilley’s Statement:

The lead officer was debating calling CPS (DCS) because obviously shoplifting with child and the condition the child was in, but for whatever reason they didn’t do it so we thought that was strange. It’s just heartbreaking because you know something should have been done ahead of time back in December, and it’s just a shame it took something to this extent to happen.

 

Mesa Police Detective, Steve Berry’s Statement:

If you got a mom or a child or a little person who don’t have the same means as someone else, but they are clothed, there’s shoes, there’s nothing outstanding there. We can try to offer resources, but we can’t simply hold someone or take their child or restrict them.

The mother didn’t stay away from Walmart’s after her shoplifting experience. On January 14th another Mesa police officer came across the three year old victim and her mother where they were reported panhandling outside another Walmart. This time it was near Baseline Road and Country Club Drive.

Apparently, the officer knew the young mother from her high school days. He chatted with her however, he did not give her any citations. According to the officers, this round the little girl was dress appropriately for the weather and was also eating a snack.

The Mesa police said that Solis claimed to be waiting for  a ride. She told them that she was working at a local Taco Bell restaurant and even gave the officer her address where she claimed she was living.

Berry’s Statement:

We’ll find a way to get some resources if we get there and see there was some abuse or neglect. In this case, we had a very seasoned officer who saw this little girl, and there was just nothing there that indicated what was to come.

Solis was later arrested for child abuse. Her young daughter was found in very bad conditions. They found the toddler bound with duct tape and she had to sit in her own feces in a trash bag. She was hidden in a closet in a Mesa apartment complex.

Police say that Solis was letting a thirty year old man, Francisco Rios-Covarrubias babysit her daughter for a few days at a time while she was working her job at the Taco Bell. He’s been arrested for sexual conduct, kidnapping, as well as other charges.

ICE has confirmed that he is an undocumented immigrant.

 

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Homicide Shooting

Homicide Shootings

Woman Missing After Complex Shooting

 

Shootings rarely end well. Someone is hurt or killed and the suspect usually flees. Shooting cases can sometimes go unsolved for quite a while.

A lot of shooting cases become homicides pretty quickly. A homicide is when someone deliberately and unlawfully kills someone. Which makes it easy to understand why a shooting turns into a homicide. Usually you aren’t shooting at someone to do them any good. A shooting is to harm someone.

The Phoenix Police Department is now looking for a woman who can not be found. They’re searching for her because a man was shot and killed at an apartment complex.

According to the reports, a one year old child as well as a woman, Veronica Huerta Brown were not found after a man was killed on a Saturday night. The man was shot at an apartment complex, which is located near the 12th Street and Indian School Road.

The investigators said that the child and Brown were in a vehicle with the victim when the victim was then ordered out of the vehicle by two men. According to the police, the men shot the victim and then took the child from him.

At this time, it’s unclear if the woman and child were abducted by the suspects or whether they fled the scene separately.

The Phoenix Police gave an update about the situation on Sunday morning. They say that the child was luckily found safely however, Brown had not been found at this time. They are worried about Brown’s safety and are searching for her.

Police spokesman, James Holmes Statement:

We believe that all three, the victim, Veronica and (the child), arrived at this apartment complex, just before the shooting, together in a vehicle.

Holmes gave a description of the shooters, saying that they were described as Hispanic men. The men seemed to be at the apartment complex and they ordered the victim to get out of the car with the child.

Holmes’ Statement:

At that point, the suspect grabbed the child and fired on the victim and took the child and he left.

There were witnesses at the scene and they told the Phoenix Police that they had hear at least four gunshots.

Neighbor, Jennalee Yazzie’s Statement:

It was like, ‘Pom pom,’ and then, ‘Pom pom,’.

 

The police have no definite answers on whether the woman and the child were abducted by the suspects or if they actually fled the scene separately.

Holmes’ Statement:

We believe that all three, the victim, Veronica and (the child), arrived at this apartment complex, just before the shooting, together in a vehicle.

Holmes also said that the two shooters were already at the apartment complex and then ordered the victim to get out of the car with the child.

Holmes said that at that point of the situation, the suspect quickly grabbed the child and fired on the victim. He then took the child and left.

Neighbor, Bryan Cunningham’s Statement:

He said it was a very small white hatchback, is what he saw. And [the car] was moving quite fast, getting right out of there after the shots and the screams.

 

The witnesses also told the police that there were at least two male suspects that got away from the complex. They were in a 90’s model vehicle that is either a white Honda or could be a white Taurus.

At this time, it’s not clear what relationship the victim had with the two suspects or with the missing Brown woman, who police are still searching for. Police also don’t know what the relation was to the woman and child with the suspects or if there was one at all.

Holmes Statement:

We have to consider that both this female and this child, based on the violence that occurred here this afternoon, could very well be in danger.

 

Police are now looking for the 90’s model vehicle that fled the scene. The incident happened in the back parking lot of an apartment complex.

If anyone has any information at all as to where Brown may be, they are encouraged to please call the Phoenix Police Violent Crimes Bureau at (602) 262-6141. Of course, as always calls can remain anonymous.

 

Drive-By Shooting in Phoenix

A drive by shooting that happened on the outside of a Phoenix bar could have been pretty devastating. The police are still looking for answers regarding this case.

According to the news reports, there was a light colored Jeep that was seen outside of the Charley’s Place Bar at the 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird Road which happened after three o’clock in the morning on August 18, 2015.

According to a report there was an person in a Jeep SUV who reportedly fired several rifle rounds into the bar. Luckily, no one was injured during the shooting.

Silent Witness is offering a reward for any information that may be helpful in this unsolved case. They are offering $1,000.00.

If you have any information on this case, please contact the Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

 

Hopefully the shootings in Phoenix slow down and end in less fatalities like this drive by bar shooting. Shootings are scary but it’s a little less scary when no one is hurt. Which is rare in a shooting, especially in a drive by shooting.

 

 

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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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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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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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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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