Pinal County employee indicted on conflict of interest charges
FLORENCE- A Pinal County employee was indicted for alleged violations of the Arizona conflict of interest statutes by a Pinal County Grand Jury.
Irma Potter, a Health and Human Services employee, indicted for activities undertaken while she was employed by the county.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
In the meantime, Mrs. Potter is being placed on administrative leave.
Pinal County assists in bringing down major drug trafficking organization
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the break-up of the Garibaldi-Lopez Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), a bi-national syndicate believed to have smuggled up to 400,000 pounds of marijuana annually from Mexico into the United States since 2003.
Fifty-nine individuals were indicted Monday and 39 arrested on felony charges relating to drug trafficking as a result of “Operation Tumbleweed,” which has also led to the seizure of 25,600 pounds of marijuana, one kilogram of cocaine, 11 pounds of methamphetamine, $769,472 of U.S. currency, 28 vehicles and 25 firearms, along with the recovery of 14 stolen vehicles. This year-long investigation was conducted by a task force comprised of the Phoenix Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Public Safety (DPS), Border Patrol, Attorney General’s Office, Customs Border Protection Air and Marine and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
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Update on Maricopa Police Officers involved in motorcycle collision
This past Sunday morning, at around 10:47 am, Maricopa Police Officers Pete Torres and Ricky Alvarado were involved in an on-duty motorcycle collision on State Route 347 near the Huhugam Heritage Center. Both officers and a civilian motorcycle rider were taken to valley hospitals for injuries sustained during the collision.
Maricopa Police Department spokesman, Sgt Stephen Judd, confirmed today that none of the injuries the officiers sustained were life threatening. Officer Alvarado, who was air lifted from scene, sustained a severely separated shoulder and is currently in the hospital being treated. Officer Torres, who was transported by ground ambulance, is also currently in the hospital and will undergo surgery to repair a broken elbow. Both officers were listed in stable condition and speaking with family members and fellow officers on Sunday.
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City Council to hold special meeting tonight
The Maricopa City Council will hold a special meeting, tonight at the Global Water Center.
The Council will discuss and possibly take action on renewing the City’s lease of the Estrella Gin site for continued use as a park and ride facility. The MaricopaXpress has been using the paved lot at Edison Road and Garvey Avenue as its pick-up and drop-off point since the service’s inception this past Spring.
The Council will also consider award of a contract to Bowman Brothers Concrete for repair of the main entrance road to Rancho El Dorado, off of John Wayne Parkway. The work to be performed includes removal of the existing brick pavers, surrounding concrete surface and subgrade, and replacement with new subgrade material and decorative stamped concrete.
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Holiday message from the Maricopa Police Department
The holiday season is a time of joy where families and loved ones come together to enjoy the holidays and ring in the New Year. Children are home from college and friends and relatives travel long distances on our nation’s highways to be together. Unfortunately, all too often the holiday season is marred by fatal traffic crashes. Sadly, many of these crashes are preventable especially those involving impaired driving.
While alcohol-impaired driving is always a major concern in motor vehicle crashes, there are certain times of the year when the problem is more prevalent, such as holidays. The percentage of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes during the last two weeks of December, the Christmas-New Years holiday period, consistently shows more people driving intoxicated then at any other times of the year.
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Arizona DPS Officers to distribute Christmas Bears to hospitalized children
For the 15th year in a row, Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers will be handing out Christmas Teddy Bears to hundreds of children statewide who find themselves in the hospital during the holidays. In the past 15 years DPS Officers have visited over 1600 kids who missed Christmas at home.
Sponsored by the Arizona Highway Patrolman Association, DPS Officers have been fanning out across the state this week bringing joy to thousands of sick kids who can’t be home with their families at Christmas time. Officers in Tucson visited children in the Pediatric Wards at both the Tucson Medical Center and at University Medical Center.
In Phoenix DPS Officers armed with Christmas Bears will be visiting kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Maricopa Medical Center on Tuesday December 23rd, 2008.
Photo Essay: Community of Hope Living Nativity
The Community of Hope church put on its fourth annual Living Nativity, at Jane Askew Park in Rancho El Dorado, Saturday evening.
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Two Maricopa Police Officers injured in multi-vehicle accident on SR347
An accident involving five motorcycles closed State Route 347 (Maricopa Road) late this morning and into the afternoon.
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SR347 closed for multi-vehicle accident – Two Maricopa PD motorcycle officers involved
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is on the scene of an eight-vehicle accident on State Route 347 (Maricopa Road), north of town, which occurred around 11:00 this morning.
Two Maricopa Police Department motorcycle officers were injured, as well as a civilian motorcyclist. The officers were providing escort for the W. Steven Martin Toy Run when the accident occured. Both officers and the civilian were transported by air to St Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of numerous, non life-threatening injuries.
SR347 is currently closed in both directions. More information as it becomes available.
2008 Holiday Homes on Parade winners announced
The City of Maricopa wrapped up its 4th Annual Holiday Homes on Parade event this week. With 23 entrants vying for the prize, residents and the judging panel had a difficult job deciding the winners.
The light displays and creative use of holiday decor showcased the hard work put into each display. One home was comprised of 26,000 lights; a feat that took the resident over one week to complete.
Winners were announced Friday morning in the following categories: Residents’ Choice; Best on Parade; Most Creative; Best Theme; Best Light Show; and Best Use of Color. In addition, the 10 homes that entered for the second year in a row were up for Hall of Fame.
