2006 DPS Annual Report - Arizona Department of Public Safety

Criminal
Investigations
Division
DPS GIITEM assists with the apprehension of attempted murder suspects
On Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Flagstaff Police Department responded to a reported
drive-by shooting in the Sunnyside area of Flagstaff. This was the third drive-by shooting in less than a month.
Upon arrival, the Flagstaff PD officers learned that four victims, one of whom was holding an infant child, were
standing around a parked vehicle. One of the victims heard a single
gunshot and looked up to see the suspect vehicle occupied by four males
drive by and then flee the area. Flagstaff PD immediately issued an
“attempt-to-locate” to all surrounding law enforcement agencies. Approximately
one hour after the shooting, an officer from Highway Patrol
District 2 located the suspect vehicle. The driver immediately took evasive
action and a pursuit ensued. The suspect lost control of the vehicle
and struck a curb. At this point, one suspect fled the scene on foot. The
suspect vehicle eventually came to a stop after intentionally backing into
the patrol vehicle. Two more suspects fled the vehicle but one was taken
into custody at the scene. A handgun was recovered in close proximity
to the suspect vehicle and it is believed one of the suspects threw it from
the vehicle. Coconino County GIITEM, Flagstaff Police Department,
Coconino County Sheriffs Office (CCSO), HPD D-2 and DPS Air Rescue
converged on the area and conducted extensive ground search which
revealed one suspect hiding in a near by residential area. Two suspects
were arrested that night at the scene and the two outstanding suspects
were arrested by GIITEM within three days. All suspects arrested, were charged and received grand jury indictments
for the following charges: Attempted 2 nd degree murder, drive-by shooting, discharge of a firearm at a
structure, aggravated assault on a police officer, endangerment, threatening and intimidating, criminal damage and
unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle.
DPS GIITEM assists in the apprehension of a vehicular homicide suspect
On Aug. 2-3, 2005, Tucson GIITEM Detectives assisted the District 8 Highway Patrol in locating a vehicular
homicide suspect from a fatal hit-and-run collision. A three-week-old baby was the victim. Detectives were able
to positively identify the suspect with indications he is an Old Pascua gang member.
DPS GIITEM assists in finding 17-year-old missing girl
On Feb. 7, 2006, Southern GIITEM Detectives assisted in locating a girl who had been reported missing to the
Douglas Police Department. A 17-year-old juvenile honor student at Douglas High School had been communicating
with an older couple via the Internet and cell phone. Detectives were able to track the older couple in Blanco,
Texas and discovered they had been hiding her. The 17-year-old was found in a room above a topless bar in
Austin, TX with a girl who worked at the bar. A search warrant was executed on the older couple’s home and
criminal charges are pending in Austin. The couple has been implicated in three other young missing females cases.
They are believed to be a gang involved in trafficking young women and will be indicted in Texas on both state and
federal charges.
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