COOLIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT Monthly Activity Report June 2007
Department Activities STAFF MEETINGS/ACTIVITIES: On June 1, Chief Palmer participated in the City Management Retreat at CAC. Chief Palmer also attended a luncheon meeting on June 8 with the new County Attorney, Jim Walsh, Sheriff Vasquez, and Richard Platt to get acquainted and discuss current issues affecting both agencies. He also attended the PCLEA meeting at CAC in June. PERSONNEL EVALUATIONS: Chief Palmer completed and conducted annual evaluation interviews with Lieutenants Stinson and Shepherd. MEETING WITH CITIZEN: Chief Palmer and staff held a second meeting with citizen Robert McDonald regarding his concerns about harassment. VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Chief Palmer and Lieutenant Stinson met with Maryann Buelna regarding her possibly working as a volunteer coordinator for the police department. PERSONNEL CHANGES: The police department continues the testing processes for police officer and dispatcher. INVESTIGATIONS ACTIVITY: During the month of June the Coolidge Police Department received four seized vehicles by way of court ordered forfeitures. Sergeant Pacheco was assigned nine cases, Detective Miller was assigned ten cases, and Detective Vance was assigned 17cases. Sergeant Pacheco also investigated two citizen complaints which were declared unfounded. The Investigations Division continued to work the copper wire theft details and utilized detectives on special assignment at night. During a spree of auto thefts and felony flight from Coolidge Officers, the Investigations Division also had Detective Miller work night time operations with the Crime Suppression Unit, which yielded the arrest one suspect. Further investigation to a second suspect continues. Major Cases & Investigative Events BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED: On June 1, Investigators arrested suspect Wibert Chauncy McKnight for the Sunstate Bank Robbery which occurred on February 1, 2007. After receiving information that he may have returned to his home in Coolidge, investigators and officers began immediate surveillance of the home and eventually confirmed that the suspect was inside the home. A subsequent search and arrest warrant was written and served by the Pinal County SWAT Team and McKnight was arrested without incident. He was booked into Pinal County Jail on Armed Robbery. Page 2 of 17
HUMAN SMUGGLING: On the night of June 6, Officer Narreau stopped a vehicle for violations in the area of Skousen and Vak Ki Inn Roads. As he approached the vehicle, he noticed approximately 8-10 individuals in the bed of the truck covered by a mesh tarp. US Border Patrol responded and took custody of the illegal aliens. None of the occupants claimed ownership of the truck and some of the illegal aliens admitted to the Border Patrol agent they were being smuggled into the country illegally. Asset forfeiture paperwork was given to the driver and was also completed for the registered owner of the vehicle. DEATH INVESTIGATION: During the early morning hours of June 9, a Coolidge resident was struck by a train in the area east of Pima Avenue and 1st Street. The male subject was reportedly lying on the ground with his neck and head lying on the west rail of the tracks. As the train approached, the subject did not move. The conductor and engineer of the train stated that it appeared by the way subject had laid on the tracks, he intended for the train to hit him. SHOTS FIRED: During the early morning of June 9, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Vah Ki Inn Road in reference to shots fired at a residence. Two bullets penetrated the front entry door and then lodged in a wall a few feet away. At time of report, there were no leads or witnesses to the crime. The owner of the home said that she was sleeping at the time of the shooting and did not see or hear the shots being fired. She could not provide any leads in the case and there were no witnesses or other calls for shots being fired. No persons were injured in the shooting and the case remains under investigation. COMMERCIAL BURGLARY/ARRESTS MADE: On the morning of June 11, janitorial staff for the Coolidge School District Office entered the office and found that it had been burglarized. Officers responded and met with an employee who stated the only item taken was a pocket PC which is used for inventory, with an estimated value of $5,000.00. Several days later the stolen item was recovered from a local second hand store and returned to the victim. Information was received regarding the suspect s identity and he was arrested about a week later. The suspect admitted to the burglary, he was booked and charges were filed accordingly. COPPER THEFTS: On June 14, officers were contacted in reference to a copper wire theft at a construction site in the 1300 block of Industrial Drive. Estimated damage and value of copper is $2000. On June 15, officers responded to the 300 block of Dirklay Avenue in reference to a copper wire theft at a construction site. The superintendent found a piece of wire which had been cut in the garage and then strung through the rafters and into the kitchen area. On June 16, officers responded to a burglary which occurred at the Sunbelt Refinery. Suspects cut the chain at the front gate and made entry. Page 3 of 17
The care taker of the property said he estimated the loss at $3,500.00 (an undetermined amount of copper wire was taken). SHOTS FIRED: On the afternoon of June 15, officers respond to the 400 block of North Main Street in reference to shots fired. Residents reported that there were four shots and they thought they were fired from within an apartment. Entry to the suspected apartment was made under exigent circumstances and inside officers found three female subjects. One of the women was arrested for a felony warrant. Officers received anonymous information regarding suspect information and follow up continues. A fired bullet that went through the wall of a nearby residence was also recovered. NARCOTICS SEARCH WARRANT: During the month of June, the Investigations and Crime Suppression Units conducted narcotics investigations on several subjects. One subject identified was a 17 year-old residence who was suspected of selling marijuana out of his residence on the 200 block of West Elm Avenue. On June 20, Juvenile Probation Officers requested assistance with a probation search of this same juvenile s home. During the search, officers noticed drugs and paraphernalia in the home and they secured a search warrant. The juvenile s mother was taken into custody prior to the warrant, when she admitted that the marijuana and paraphernalia in the home belonged to her. The juvenile was also taken into custody when he was found with.22 and.45 caliber ammunition in his room. Additional marijuana, paraphernalia, packaging material and ammunition were found in the home and juvenile s room. The juvenile was referred for his numerous probation violations. His mother was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. CASES FOR REVIEW: Investigations sent 26 felony cases to the Pinal County Attorney s Office. Page 4 of 17
INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVED & CLOSED OFFENSES NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVED TOTAL CLOSED BY ARREST EXCEPTIONAL MEANS HOMICIDE/ATTEMPT 0 RAPE/SEXUAL OFFENSES 3 1declined 2unfond ASSAULTS & AGGAVATED ASSAULT BURGLARY RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL LARCENY/ FELONY/THEFT & FRAUD 1 8 2 4 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 1 1 KIDNAPPING 1 ARSON 0 CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT 0 MISSING/RUNAWAY JUVENILE 3 3 located EXTORTION NSF CHECK/FORGERY 4 NARCOTICS 0 OTHER: 0 OLD CASE S CLOSED 0 Page 5 of 17
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Page 10 of 17 Crimes Per 1,000 Historically
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Page 12 of 17 To-Date Crime Rate Comparison
199T 1996 1999 aoa, 20M 91002 2003 aooz aoofj 2006 Year Page 13 of 17
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