IIMPACT detectives locate and dismantle two drop houses in west Phoenix

Fifteen coyotes arrested and thirteen victims rescued, including four children

On Sunday, July 5, 2009, detectives from the multi-agency Illegal Immigration Prevention and Apprehension Co-Op Team (IIMPACT) began investigating a complaint received from a local woman who said her boyfriend had re-entered the U.S. from Mexico after recently being deported and was being held captive in a Phoenix area house. The woman said the captors had held him since June 26^th and were initially demanding about $1,200 for his release. By Sunday, July 5, 2009, the ransom was raised to $3,000, and if it wasn’t paid the captors, or coyotes, threatened to beat up and then behead the woman’s boyfriend and dump his body in the desert. Through investigative efforts, IIMPACT, which includes officers from the Phoenix Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), located the house where the woman’s boyfriend was being held. Five suspected human smugglers (coyotes) were arrested following a vehicle and foot pursuit by Phoenix Police following an attempted traffic stop after they were seen leaving the suspected drop house (today) on Monday, July 6, 2009. A canine unit from the Phoenix Police Department and the agency’s Firebird Air Support assisted in capturing the initial coyotes. Later, two female suspected human smugglers were stopped and taken into custody after leaving the house.

Also this morning at about 9:00 a.m., a SWAT team from the DPS Special Operations Unit served a search warrant at 2827 W Campbell, Phoenix. The SWAT Team located 15 people in the home who are all believed to be illegal aliens. Of the 15, two suspected human smugglers, both male, were taken into custody. Of the victims, nine were female, including a seven-year-old and a two-year-old child. Of the males, one was 12-years-old and another three-years-old. The victims are believed to have been in the house for up to one week and all claim to be Mexican Nationals. The victims are in fair condition and have not required or requested medical attention. No significant fortifications were found in the residence.

One of the victims informed IIMPACT detectives about a second location at a Motel 6 where additional human smugglers were hiding out. At about 10:00 a.m. this morning, a DPS SWAT Team made entry into a room at the Motel 6 near Indian School and I-17. Upon entry, six suspected human smugglers were located and no victims.

The 15 suspected human smugglers (coyotes) arrested were booked into the Maricopa County 4^th Ave Jail on extortion and human smuggling charges. All are believed to be Mexican Nationals.

Collision with police car leaves 1 dead

Southern Arizona (June 3, 2009)- A woman under arrest for driving under the influence died this morning when the police car she was sitting in was struck by another a vehicle. Two police cars erupted into flames as a result of the crash. (Photo/Arizona Department of Public Safety)

Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers seize over half a million in U.S. currency during January

Several traffic stops by Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers, along with the efforts of DPS criminal investigators, resulted in the seizure of $544,611 in drug money during January. All of the money seized was U.S. currency.

One of the largest cash seizures made by DPS during the month occurred Jan. 6 when a DPS Canine Officer stopped a 2009 Buick sedan for a traffic violation on Interstate 40 westbound just east of Flagstaff. While talking with the driver, the officer observed indicators of criminal activity and deployed his canine which alerted to the trunk area of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a box in the trunk which contained $133,420 in U.S. currency.

The driver was identified as Damon John Louis, 31, of San Francisco, Calif. He was detained, questioned and later released. The money was seized and the vehicle was returned to the rental agency. The investigation is continuing into this seizure.

“This one traffic stop shows what law enforcement is facing in the ongoing battle against drug cartels doing business in Arizona. Thanks to the professionalism and vigilance of this DPS officer, this seizure will help our criminal investigators follow the money that will hopefully lead to more arrests in the effort to keep our communities safe,” said Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Photo Enforcement Saving Lives on State Highways

DPS Press Release:

Thanks to the work of the Governor and the Arizona Legislature, the increased number of DPS 

Officers on state highways has resulted in increased enforcement in the last few years.  

Accordingly, DPS has seen a steady decrease in collision numbers statewide.  Since the 

expansion of the Photo Enforcement Program, collisions have been further reduced above the 

trend of the last few years. 

 

Additional reductions occurred during the first 80 days of the expanded photo enforcement 

program.  Property crashes have been reduced by 12%, injury crashes by 17% and fatality 

collisions by 29% 

 

These are preliminary numbers based on a comparison to collisions on the metro Phoenix 

freeway system from September 26th 2007 to December 16th 2007 which takes in approximately 

80 days.