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)

Major school bus crash sends children to hospital

Chino Valley- On 06/02/2009 at about 4:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a multiple vehicle collision with injuries involving two school buses and two pick up trucks, northbound on State Route 89, milepost 330.1 or the intersection of Road 4 North and S.R. 89, in Chino Valley, Ariz. The Chino Valley Police Department has requested that DPS conduct the investigation into this collision.

Preliminary information suggests that the driver of one pick up truck had slowed to make a turn onto road 4 north; the driver of the second pick-up following the first pick-up had slowed down along with the driver of first school bus. The driver of the second school bus lost control for an unknown reason and rear-ended the first school bus causing a chain reaction collision.

The driver of the second school bus was extricated from the bus and flown to a local area medical center for the treatment of serious injuries. The school buses from the Chino Valley Unified School District had a total of 40 students on board between both buses. Eight of the students were transported to local area hospitals with minor injuries. One of the students required extrication. The students were middle school and elementary school age.

State Route 89 was closed in the area of the collision at 4:00 P.M and reopened just before 8:00 P.M. The actual cause of this collision will not be determined for several weeks to months.

SEXUAL ASSAULT/ARREST

Peoria, AZ (June 2, 2009)- In early March, 2009, the victim reported to Phoenix Police that she had possible sexually assaulted a week prior. The victim told police she had been unconscious at the time. The victim explained she had been informed by that they had visited a certain website where a video of her being assaulted by the suspect, who was known to her, had been posted. Several “witnesses” on the website had “blogged” that they had seen the video.

Investigators determined that the video on the website may have been a live webcam broadcast and a search warrant was authored for the site and its hosting site. Investigators were able to establish probable cause for an arrest and, on 1 June, the suspect was booked into jail on one count of sexual assault and surreptitious video taping.

Information received through this investigation indicates there may have been similar acts of this type involving this suspect. The Phoenix Police Department is asking anyone who may have information relative to this incident please call Silent Witness at 480-W.I.T.N.E.S.S. As always callers may remain anonymous.

Public Safety Launches New Communication Tool

Scottsdale Police (June 2, 2009) The City of Scottsdale’s Police, Fire and Transportation Management Departments recently started using a new communication tool called “Nixle”, a geographic-based messaging service that will enhance the city’s ability to quickly notify residents and businesses of important news and emergency information. Scottsdale is the first agency in Arizona to use the service.

Nixle is a secure communications platform that allows authorized City staff to send information directly to a subscriber’s wireless device. Scottsdale residents, business owners and media can elect to receive messages as emails, text messages, or over the web. The site allows for the immediate release of time-sensitive information and alerts such as road closures, public safety incidents, traffic delays, flooding, community events and evacuations.

In the ever-changing world of communications, Nixle was determined to be a good fit for two main reasons: cost and security. The service is free for subscribers (standard text message rates apply) and is offered at no cost to public safety agencies and municipalities.

Registering for Nixle is easy. Simply create a log-in by entering your wireless number, e-mail address and the area of town you are interested receiving alerts. Users can rest assured; Nixle does not use your information for any marketing or unwanted solicitations. People who register for the Nixle service can choose to receive secure and reliable messages about public safety, weather, traffic and related information from the City of Scottsdale. Scottsdale residents, or those who choose to register within the Scottsdale area, will also receive alerts specific to their geographically-targeted area via wireless text message, email and/or the web.

To sign-up for Scottsdale Public Safety updates, go to: http://local.nixle.com/register/.

It is important to note that Nixle is intended to provide quick and direct emergency communications . It will not replace traditional methods for two-way communications with the public. Scottsdale Public Safety will continue to utilize the local news media and our enhanced www.scottsdaleaz.gov website to provide detailed and timely information about what's going on in the City of Scottsdale.

SERIAL ARMED ROBBERY ARRESTS

Phoenix, AZ (May 29, 2009) - Beginning about the middle of May of this year the Phoenix Police Department Robbery Unit began to identify a series of violent armed robberies which were occurring in the Cactus Park and Desert Horizon police precincts, and in the city of Glendale. The method of operation for the suspects varied from aggravated robberies where the victims were beaten to armed robberies where handguns and a rifle were used.

All of these robberies had two things in common; the suspects were seen either arriving or leaving the scenes in a gold colored Chevrolet HHR (small SUV) and the vehicle was being driven by a much older female. The suspects committing the offenses had been described as being in their early to late teens.

A joint investigation between Phoenix and Glendale detectives, and in conjunction with officers from the Cactus Park Neighborhood Enforcement Team (92X), revealed that Cynthia Roberson was using her own vehicle in the crimes as the “getaway driver”. Cynthia, her two sons (John and Tony) and many of the son’s friends have been identified as suspects in the armed robberies.

Most of the suspects were arrested without incident on 05-29-09 at around 8:45 p.m.; others were arrested previously. Police served a search warrant at Cynthia’s home where several actual and simulated weapons (pellet guns) were discovered.

Phoenix Police believe, at this time, that all suspects related to this group have been identified.

Double Homicide

Phoenix, AZ, (May 29, 2009) -At approximately 12:01 a.m. this morning Phoenix Police Officers responded to a home in the area of 2200 E. Amelia in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival officers learned that Mario Corona Jr. and his friend (witness 2) had been watching television in the home when they heard two gunshots from the bedroom of Mario’s parents. Mario, Jr. went to the bedroom and found his mother and father (Mario, Sr. and Patricia) lying on the bed with gunshot wounds to their heads. A handgun was also found in close proximity.

Upon arrival of Phoenix Fire paramedics, Mario Sr. was pronounced dead at the home. Patricia was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

No family history has been established and I have no further information at this time. This incident remains under investigation.

ARE YOU READY TO BE A HERO?

SIGN UP TO GET TRAINED & LEARN TO SAVE A LIFE DURING NATIONAL CPR/AED AWARENESS WEEK

(May 29, 2009) In December of 2007, Congress declared the first week of June each year as National CPR/AED Awareness Week. The goal of National CPR and AED Awareness Week is to encourage states, cities and towns to establish organized programs that provide CPR and AED trainings and increase public access to AEDs.

Approximately 1,000 people die every day in the United States because they suffered a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital. However, death from sudden cardiac arrest is not inevitable. If more people react quickly by calling 9-1-1, performing CPR, and using an AED more lives can be saved.

Scottsdale Fire Department began training the public in a new CPR technique called Continuous Chest Compressions (CCC) in July 2008. To date, more than 1,400 people have been trained on how to save the life of a loved one, coworker or stranger in cardiac arrest. This new technique is easy, safe and does not require mouth to mouth contact.

Free 90-minute community presentations on the CCC resuscitation technique will be held:

6 – 7:30 pm, Wednesday, June 3 at Fire Headquarters, 8401 E. Indian School Road
1 – 2:30 pm, Saturday, June 6 at Horizon Community Center, 15444 N. 100th Street
9:30 – 11 am, Saturday, June 13 at Fire Headquarters, 8401 E. Indian School Road
1-2:30 pm, June 27 at La Mirada Desert Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road

Scottsdale Fire Department staff and volunteers will teach participants to respond to a cardiac emergency including important tips for calling 911, performing chest compressions, and how to use an AED. Advance registration is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome.

To sign up, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/CCC-CPR or call (480) 312-8000.

For a complete listing of upcoming community CPR, First Aid and Babysitter certification courses, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/CPRclasses. Pre-registration is required for all certification courses. For more information or to register, call (480) 312-1879.