Peoria Police looking for a missing endangered person

On Wednesday March 25th at about 1:00 pm the victim left his house in
8900 block of west Alda (Union Hills area) riding his black and gray
mountain bike and has not returned. He is in need of medication for
controlling autism and is classified as seriously mentally ill. He has
not had his medication for several days and if he does not take it
becomes out of control. He also has the capacity of the 6 year old.

Suspect Description: Timothy Elkins, W/M, 24 years old

5'10", 275, Brown hair, blue eyes

If he is seen or his whereabouts are known please contact the Peoria
Police Department at 623-773-8311.

Arizona Department of Public Safety seeking witnesses to a possible wrong-way driver

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is seeking witnesses that were in the area of San Simon (milepost 380 on Interstate 10) on Saturday February 28, 2009, at about 2:30 a.m.
Specifically we’re looking for anyone who might’ve witnessed a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the Interstate. This vehicle later caused a fatality collision.

If you were in the area and saw a vehicle traveling the wrong way on I-10 early that morning, please call the Sierra Vista DPS Office at (520) 458-8301.

DPS Seizes Approximately 14 lbs. Hydroponic Marijuana from a Traffic Stop

On March 7, 2009, at about 3:50 PM, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officer made a traffic stop eastbound on Interstate 10 near Milepost 86. The vehicle was identified as a 2002 Mazda 2002 with two occupants and was stopped for improper display of the license plate.

During the contact with the driver and passenger, the DPS Officer observed some unusual behavior from the two occupants and also detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer requested a DPS Canine unit to assist. The K-9 was deployed and alerted to the rear of the Mazda. A subsequent check of the trunk area revealed a large duffel bag which contained the Hydroponic Marijuana. The two occupants were taken into custody and initially detained for further questioning.

The Hydroponic Marijuana was packaged into several different plastic bags. Each plastic bag was labeled with a code number and a one word description of the type of marijuana contained inside. In addition, there were separate glass jars of the marijuana that were believed to be used to retrieve a sample of the product to a buyer. Also there was a separate piece of paper which identified what the code number represented and the marijuana type. Hydroponically grown marijuana produces a considerable more potent and vibrant plant which is why the street value is much higher than field grown marijuana. At this point it is unknown where the Hydroponic Marijuana may have been grown or what the final destination would have been for the contraband load.

Suspects:
John Conniff, age 49, resident of Phoenix, employed as a respiratory therapist
Michelle Conniff (spouse), age 47, resident of Phoenix, employed as a 6th grade educator.

Both suspects were charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana for Sale, Transportation of Marijuana for Sale, Conspiracy to Distribute/Sale Marijuana and booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail. The vehicle and marijuana were seized and entered into evidence.

DPS Director Roger Vanderpool states that this traffic stop is one of the many thousands that are regularly conducted by skilled DPS Patrol Officers which have resulted in large amounts of dangerous drugs being seized and preventing them from making it to neighborhood streets and homes through Arizona and the country.

Peoria Police and Fire Departments are reminding bike riders

A collision between a car and a bicycle rider on Tuesday March 3rd at
7:15 a.m. has Peoria Police and Fire reminding bike riders of their
responsibilities when riding on or near a roadway. A 15 year old male
was riding his bike south on the sidewalk on the west side of North 87th
Avenue and when he got to West Lone Cactus Drive he rode off the side
walk and directly in to the path on a car being driven by an 18 year old
male. The driver of the car was unable to stop colliding with the bike
rider and came to an immediate stop after the collision. The 15 year old
bike rider was treated by Peoria Fire paramedics and then flown to a
trauma center in Phoenix with non-life threatening injuries.

Suspect arrested for having sexual relations with a minor and child prostitution

On March 2nd at about 10:30 pm Peoria Police officers responded to a
house in the 7500 block of West Corrine reference a sexual conduct with
a minor call. A 13 year old female from Phoenix told officers that a few
months ago she met the suspect on the internet. At one point he showed
up at her house in Phoenix and her mother chased him off telling the
suspect her daughter was 12 years old. They had no contact for months
and then on February 28th the victim called the suspect and asked him to
pick her up. He took her to his house in Peoria where they had
consensual sexual relations. After that they went to Phoenix where he
told her how to solicit acts of prostitution which she did on several
occasions. On March 2nd at about 10:30 pm they returned to the suspect's
house in Peoria and the victim was left unattended in his car. The
victim called her home and talked with a Phoenix officer who instructed
her to flee to a neighbor's house which she did.

The suspect was contacted, admitted his involvement in the crimes during
an interview with a detective from Peoria's Special Victims Unit and
booked at MCSO 4th Avenue Jail on charges of Sexual Conduct with a Minor
and Child Prostitution.

Peoria Operates An Aggressive Grafitti Removal Program

Graffiti used to be a sign that gangs were in your area and were used to
let other gangs know who's "turf" an area is. Today that's most likely
not the case. In most instances graffiti is the work of "taggers". These
are people who feel they have the need and the right to express
themselves on any surface they can find; walls, signs, trailers, train
cars; any place people will see their work. Well they are wrong,
graffiti is a crime!

The City of Peoria has a very effective and aggressive graffiti removal
team that works with property owners to get graffiti removed or painted
over in 48 hours. The city cannot remove graffiti from private property
without the owner's permission. If the owner does not remove or paint
over the graffiti, does not give the city permission to remove the
graffiti or does not respond to the contact attempts by the graffiti
removal team, the matter is referred to Peoria Code Enforcement for
action.

While the Peoria Code Enforcement, Police and Community Services
Departments work closely together in dealing with graffiti, the problem
can't be solved without the help of the community.

If you see graffiti please call the Graffiti Hotline at 623-773-7094 and
report the location so it can be checked. If it is reported quickly, the
city can remove it quickly. You can also make a difference in stopping
this criminal activity by calling 9-1-1 when you see subjects in the act
- taggers face from 4 month in jail and a $750.00 fine to 3 years in
prison if arrested and convicted depending of value of loss. Tips
leading to taggers can be made anonymously.

Graffiti has a negative impact on neighborhoods and the entire
community. Only by working together can we make a difference in
preventing and stopping graffiti. Remember graffiti, it's a crime, NOT
ART!

Peoria Police Reminds Parents To Know Who Your Kids Are Talking To

Who are your kids talking to and who are their friends? Parents do you
know the answers to this question?

On Tuesday March 3rd Peoria Police Special Victims Unit detectives
arrested a 21 year old Peoria man for having consensual sexual relations
with a 13 year old girl and then having her take part in acts of
prostitution. They met each other on the internet.

The Peoria Police Department wants to remind parents and guardians of
some safety reminders they should share with the kids:

* Know who your kids friends are and meet their parents.

* Know where your kids are going and who they will be with.

* Know who your kids are talking with on the phone or sharing text
messages with.

* Know who your kids are chatting with on the computer.

* If necessary, move the computer they are using to an area where
you can monitor what they are doing.

* Be nosey, it's your responsibility to know these things about
your kids. Your kids may not like you being so "nosey" but it's your job
to make sure they are safe.

If you would like a presentation for a group of neighbors or a community
group on how to keep your kids safe, call Peoria Police Community
Relations at 623-773-7099.