Officer Jeremy Sweet Arrested for Aggravated Assault

A Phoenix police officer has been arrested for aggravated assault. Seven-year veteran Jeremy Sweet was arrested and booked Tuesday evening on one count of aggravated assault.

The arrest stems from an investigation that began Monday afternoon. That's when a complaint was brought forward by a Phoenix resident calling 911. Investigators are alleging that while on-duty, Sweet pointed a handgun at the occupants of another vehicle during a traffic altercation on South Central Avenue

"His justification for this was indicating that someone may be trying to ram or cut him off to take a prisoner from his vehicle," says Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump.

"He did not get on his police radio," Crump continued. "He did not ask for assistance. He did not document this in any way. In fact, pulled up next to the vehicle, lectured the driver about their driving behavior while the gun was pointed at him, and continued on his way to the jail to perform his duties."

Sweet was hired by the Phoenix Police Department on July 16, 2007 and was assigned to the Department's Central Booking Detail at the time this incident occurred. Sweet was operating an unmarked police vehicle designed to transport prisoners, some of whom witnessed portions of the incident.

The following is a statement from the Phoenix Police Department:
"The Phoenix Police Department takes this incident very seriously and has taken swift and appropriate action to help ensure public trust remains high. We understand our role in the community of upholding the law and anything less will never be tolerated."

Detective Joshua Boyd Charged with Domestic Violence

A Maricopa police detective accused of assaulting his wife and son during a domestic dispute was arrested Saturday and put on paid leave.

Detective Joshua Boyd, 41, faces charges of aggravated assault, assault, disorderly conduct and criminal damage, according to a press release Monday from the City of Maricopa Police Department.

Officers responded to a domestic violence call at 4:02 a.m. Saturday. Alcohol is considered to be a factor.

"The victim...explained she was pushed by her husband...causing her to fall to the floor and injure her right wrist. It was also learned her 14-year-old son was assaulted by Boyd while trying to protect his mother," the release said.

Both were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Boyd is also accused of striking a separation gate with a broom until it was bent and non-functional and of breaking the broom over his knee, the release said.

Boyd was booked into the Pinal County Jail. He will be placed on paid administrated leave pending an internal investigation.

Boyd, a Maricopa Police Department member since 2007, is currently assigned to the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force.

Officer Lonnie Morris Arrested for Drunk Driving in Patrol Car

A Chandler police officer was arrested Sunday morning for allegedly driving under the influence.

Seth Tyler with the Chandler Police Department confirmed that one of its officers was arrested for suspected DUI at 10:36 a.m.

He said the officer showed up for an "extra-duty" job near Arizona Avenue just south of Queen Creek Road and appeared to be impaired.

Tyler identified the officer as 53-year-old Lonnie Morris, a 19-year veteran with the Department.

Tyler said the officer was processed and has been placed on paid-administrative leave pending an internal investigation. The officer was then transferred to a local hospital for observation.

Tyler said the officer was driving a Chandler police patrol car.

Officer Timothy Merrill Arrested for Assault, Vandalism

An Arizona police officer was arrested on multiple charges in downtown Nashville on Wednesday night.

Timothy Reed Merrill, age 32, was charged with assault, vandalism and public intoxication.

A police affidavit said Merrill, who was in town for training, had caused issues at Dixieland Delights on Broadway and then allegedly punched the front window of the store. The employee told officers that Merrill had been asked to leave the store because he was harassing a cashier and became disorderly.

He was detained outside a bar along Broadway after security there came to help. The affidavit said Merrill tried to run from a security officer and fell down. While the security officer tried to handcuff him, Merrill allegedly kicked the man in the head.

Once police took him into custody, they smelled alcohol and noticed he had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Merrill’s bond was set at $8,000.

Corrections Officer Jose Maria-Macias Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Minor

A 23-year-old former corrections officer at the Buckeye prison has been booked into Maricopa County Jail for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Trent Crump said sexually explicit text messages were found on the 15-year-old's phone on April 21, and on April 24, witnesses called police to report what they believed to be sexual exploitation of a minor.

Investigators interviewed the victim who said it began on April 5 with text messages and led to sexual abuse.

Search warrants were served at the home of Jose Maria-Macias, 23, and detectives found evidence supporting the allegations, Crump said.

Maria-Macias was arrested at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis and faces five counts of sexual conduct with a minor, one count of sexual abuse of a minor, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.

Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux said Maria-Macias was hired on Dec. 16, 2013 and assigned to ASPC-Lewis on Feb. 1 after graduating from the academy.

Lamoreaux said Maria-Macias resigned from the department at the time of his arrest.

Detention Officer Pete Gomez Arrested for Asking Inmate to Expose Herself

A detention officer at Coconino County Detention Facility was arrested Wednesday after allegedly acting inappropriately with a female inmate.

Flagstaff police say 50-year-old Pete Gomez asked a female inmate to expose herself to him.

The woman told a staff member about the incident and Coconino County Sheriff's deputies began an investigation.

Gomez was arrested on one count of unlawful sexual conduct in a correctional facility.

Police say Gomez has worked at the detention center for five years and is on administrative leave.

Officer Johnny Bridges Charged with Domestic Violence

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Detroit Police Officer Johnny Ray Bridges, 47, with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, unlawful imprisonment, domestic violence and reckless discharge of a firearm.

The charges stem from an event that allegedly occurred on Saturday between Bridges and his girlfriend on March 3.

The woman appears to have escaped the situation by jumping out of a window and running to a nearby restaurant while wearing barely any clothing. An employee at the restaurant tells Isom the woman was only wearing a shirt and her face was "a little bit beat up." Employees gave her some clothes to cover up and called for help.

Prosecutors say Bridges was off-duty when the alleged incident occurred, and both had been drinking. An argument began and, at some point during the argument, Bridges fired a handgun into the air and punched and kicked the victim's face and body.

Bridges was arraigned on Wednesday and a judge set his bond at $5,000. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim and to not possess or purchase firearms.

He is scheduled to be back in court March 13.

Officer Kyle James McCartin Arrested for Robbing Store

Tuscon Police Officer, Kyle James McCartin, was drunk and belligerent when he walked into a Giant Gas Station wearing his bullet proof vest and began pointing his pistol at the clerk.

Deputies were called to a Giant Gas Station and learned two men who appeared very intoxicated entered the store wearing bulletproof vests.

Authorities say one of the men pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the clerk twice.

The incident was caught on the gas station’s surveillance camera:

 YouTube Video of Incident

The fact that McCartin was drunk is irrelevant in this instance, however the fact that he assaulted a man with a firearm is not. The clerk did not know what these two drunk idiots in bullet proof vests intentions were.

What would have happened if the gun would have gone off?

McCartin was subsequently fired and faced 1 count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 Felony. He originally plead not guilty as he claimed to have no memory of the incident, luckily it was caught on camera.

In October of last year McCartin changed his plea to guilty.

Now on to your daily dose of above the law injustice. McCartin plead guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; a charge that carries a sentence of 2 to 21 years.

And exactly how many of those 2 to 21 years will he be serving behind bars? Zero.

Instead, his actions, like the majority of unjust actions committed by members of the state, will remain unaccountable.

Yes, McCartin, who drunkenly and negligently endangered the life of an innocent man will not see one hour behind bars.

Instead, his actions, like the majority of unjust actions committed by members of the state, will remain unaccountable.

Ask yourself this question. Had McCartin not been a cop, would he have spent time behind bars?

Yes, McCartin, who drunkenly and negligently endangered the life of an innocent man will not see one hour behind bars.
Instead, his actions, like the majority of unjust actions committed by members of the state, will remain unaccountable.
Ask yourself this question. Had McCartin not been a cop, would he have spent time behind bars?

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/drunken-cop-caught-camera-pulling-gun-gas-station-clerk/#Z4TGHHhdKbM1fcOu.99

Yes, McCartin, who drunkenly and negligently endangered the life of an innocent man will not see one hour behind bars.

Former Officer Walter Knox Charged with Sexual Assault

A former Mesa police officer was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting two women inside an art gallery he owns in Old Town Scottsdale.

42-year-old Walter Knox says he was floored when police arrested him for sexual assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Knox has not been charged and he says the alleged victims' claims are bogus and it's all a scam.

The owner of Knox Artifacts near Goldwater and Main Street in Scottsdale was arrested at his high end gallery Thursday.

The alleged victims say a handgun was involved.

"Any incident like that is totally out of whack," said Antonio Mona of Casa de Artistas of Scottsdale.

Fellow gallery owners were taken aback by the allegations.

Knox, who wouldn't talk with us on camera, told us off-camera that he was assaulted in a strip club earlier that night, where he says police identification and prior duty weapon were stolen.

He says a man and the two alleged victims, who claimed to have witnessed that attack, came back to his gallery where he says they tried to get him to invest in a project.

In a police report, Knox admitted to having consensual contact with the women.  He showed us photos of the two alleged victims.  Topless, in the gallery and smiling as they showed off ancient artifacts.

Police say they found meth and suspected cocaine in the back of the gallery, something Knox says the alleged victims left there.  He also claims they stole thousands of dollars from him.

According to the police report, investigators staked out the business for about six hours before arresting Knox as the store closed following an art walk Thursday.

The arrest comes as a shock to others in the high-end art community.

"It's a close knit community of very wonderful people who not only promote the arts, but promote the downtown area of Scottsdale," said Mona.

The alleged victims are 28 and 29-years-old.

Mesa police say Knox took medical retirement in 2005 after serving about 10 years with the department.  They add that retired officers get a police ID saying they're retired officers.  They're also allowed to buy their duty weapon.

Officer Scott Pennell Charged with Aggravated Assault

A Chandler officer is behind bars on felony charges after he was arrested for a domestic violence incident at his home.

Officer Scott Pennell faces two counts of aggravated assault, two counts disorderly conduct, one count of stalking and one count of kidnapping.

Pennell's live-in girlfriend tell Chandler Police that on Wednesday he held her down on the couch and tried to strangle her.  According to a police report from Chandler Police, Pennell then called the victim's mother in Vermont and claimed he was going to kill his girlfriend.

His girfriend called Chandler Police on Thursday morning when he returned to the house.  The victim received medical attention, and a forensic nurse confirmed there were marks on the woman's neck consistent with strangulation.  Pennell surrendered to police at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Officer Jeffrey Morgan Arrested for Possession of Heroin

A veteran Chandler police officer has been arrested for possession of heroin.

Documents show Jeffrey Morgan, a 13-year veteran, was arrested March 4 and resigned from the Chandler police force March 7.

"Our drug policy is very simple, you cannot have any illegal drugs in your system," said Detective Seth Tyler with the Chandler Police Department.

Early in March, Chandler police received information that Morgan was buying and using heroin.  Police searched Morgan's apartment where they say they confiscated evidence including a chunk of suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Tyler said it's normal procedure for them to investigate their own.

"This is not the first time, unfortunately, that we've had to investigate one of our officers for a criminal offense," Tyler said. "This had happened in the past. Unfortunately, it will happen again in the future."

Morgan was a motor officer in the traffic unit.

"They focus on two things; they focus on enforcement on the roadway, and they focus on roadway impairment," Tyler said.

But now his cases could be impacted with this felony arrest. Morgan resigned a few days after the search warrant was served.

"Our function as police in our society begins with the public trust," Tyler said. "If the public trust is compromised in any way, we will take swift action."

Morgan was processed and booked into jail. He is free pending formal charges being filed by the county attorney.

Corrections Officer Yennifer Reyes Arrested for Having Sex with Minor

A Pima County Sheriff's Department corrections officer resigned Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor.

PCSO says Corrections Officer Yennifer Reyes was arrested on Wednesday for being sexually involved with a young female from late 2013 to early 2014.

Deputies began their investigation on Tuesday after PCSO got a report about Reyes' alleged relationship.

PCSO says they found evidence of the sexual relationship and arrested Reyes.

She was booked on one count of sexual conduct with a minor, fifteen years of age or older. 

Reyes was in the process of being terminated when she resigned on Thursday; she had been with the Sheriff's Department since May 2005.

University Sgt. John McGrath Arrested for "Super Extreme DUI"

A University of Arizona police officer was arrested and released Saturday evening for a Super Extreme DUI after he crashed a marked patrol vehicle while on-duty into a wall near Speedway Blvd. and Interstate-10.

According to law enforcement, UAPD Sgt. John McGrath, 27, showed symptoms of impairment following the crash. McGrath was charged with a "Super Extreme DUI", which occurs when a suspect has a .20 Blood Alcohol Content or higher.

According to Tucson Police Sgt. Pete Dugan, no one was injured in the single-vehicle accident.

McGrath was charged and released. In addition to four DUI charges, McGrath was also cited for failure to control speed to avoid a collision, and a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage.

The patrol vehicle was towed and will remain impounded for at least 30 days, in accordance with state law.

According to UAPD Sgt. Filbert Barrera, McGrath has been with the department since 2009 and was promoted to sergeant more than a year ago.

McGrath also served concurrently with the Arizona Army National Guard and recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan.

McGrath has since been placed on investigative suspension. UAPD is cooperating with the investigation.

Officer Justin Francis Laclere Accused of Having Sex with Underaged Girl

A former Phoenix police officer accused of having sex with an underage girl who wanted to get pregnant has pleaded not guilty.

Justin Francis Laclere of Gilbert faces of one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and one count of sexual conduct with a minor.

He's accused of having sex with the 17-year-old girl at her family's home while they were away.

Police say Laclere replied to a post the girl made on cellphone app that allows users to anonymously share photos with text.

The seven-year Phoenix police veteran resigned from the department after his arrest.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has cost Phoenix Taxpayers $49 Million dollars

Link to Video

A political feud among county officials in metro Phoenix that led to a spate of costly lawsuits and unsuccessful public corruption investigations against some participants in the disputes has cost taxpayers at least $49 million.

County officials on Monday released the nearly final price tag for the disputes that mired county government from 2006 through 2010 when Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and then-County Attorney Andrew Thomas squared off against county officials and judges.

The disputes centered on cuts to agency budgets, a plan to build a new court building complex and other issues.

Arpaio and Thomas lost most of the key battles.

"I was unjustly prosecuted," said Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County supervisor who was one of the people targeted by Arpaio and Thomas.

"[I was] hit with 44 felony counts and I was cleared of everything. But it was hell," she continued.

Monday, documents obtained by CBS 5 News shows that $49 million in taxpayer money was spent on litigation costs and other settlements.

"No one was ever prosecuted. None of the cases stood. Everything fell apart. It was political vindictiveness," said Wilcox.

CBS 5 News reached out to Thomas by phone and through email. He never responded. Arpaio, however, released this statement:

"My office is only a small piece of the county's past internal disputes.  I am glad those difficult days are behind us."  

Arpaio and Thomas loomed large in many of the disputes, but other officials also took part in power struggles that, in some instances, didn't involve the sheriff or prosecutor.

Joe Arpaio Facing Justice Department Lawsuit Over Alleged Civil Rights Violations

Federal authorities said Wednesday that they plan to sue Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office over allegations of civil rights violations, including the racial profiling of Latinos.

The U.S. Justice Department has been seeking an agreement requiring Arpaio's office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Latinos to assure them that the department is there to also protect them.

Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations and has claimed that allowing a court monitor would mean that every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.

DOJ officials told a lawyer for Arpaio on April 3 that the lawman's refusal of a court-appointed monitor was a deal-breaker that would end settlement negotiations and result in a federal lawsuit.

The "notice of intent to file civil action" came Wednesday from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez in a letter to an Arpaio lawyer.

Perez, who heads the DOJ's civil rights division, noted that it's been more than 100 days since the sheriff's office received the DOJ's findings report and federal authorities haven't met with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office counsel since Feb. 6 to discuss the terms of a consent agreement.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Arpaio defended himself in the face of the pending lawsuit.
"If they sue, we'll go to court. And then we'll find out the real story," he said. "There's lots of miscommunication emanating from Washington. They broke off communications.
"They're telling me how to run my organization. I'd like to get this resolved, but I'm not going to give up my authority to the federal government. It's as simple as that," Arpaio added.

Last December, the DOJ released a scathing report accusing Arpaio's office of racially profiling Latinos, basing immigration enforcement on racially charged citizen complaints and punishing Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish in Arizona's most populous county.

The DOJ also accused Arpaio of having a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.
The civil rights allegations have led some Arpaio critics to call for his resignation, including the National Council of La Raza, a prominent advocacy group for Latinos.

The sheriff's office also is facing criticism over more than 400 sex-crimes investigations – including dozens of alleged child molestations – that hadn't been investigated adequately or weren't examined at all over a three-year period ending in 2007.

Arpaio has apologized for the botched cases, reopened 432 sex-crimes investigations and made 19 arrests.
Separate from the civil rights probe, a federal grand jury has been investigating Arpaio's office on criminal abuse-of-power allegations since at least December 2009. That grand jury is examining the investigative work of the sheriff's anti-public corruption squad.

The self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America has been a national political fixture who has built his reputation on jailing inmates in tents and dressing them in pink underwear, selling himself to voters as unceasingly tough on crime and pushing the bounds of how far local police can go to confront illegal immigration

Corrections Officer Jeffery Williams Arrested for Child Porn

An officer with the Arizona Department of Corrections has been arrested and charged after multiple images of child pornography were discovered on his personal computer.

On 4/12/2012, Members of the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Casa Grande Police Department responded to a computer repair shop in Casa Grande after a technician reported a computer that had been brought in by a customer for repair, identified as Jeffrey Williams, 46, of Casa Grande, contained images of children being sexually abused.

Detectives with CGPD seized the computer and obtained a search warrant to have the hard drive examined. Investigators with the PCSO Computer Forensic Lab were able to pull several images including videos of children being sexually abused.

Based on the materials found, an arrest warrant for Williams was issued as well as search warrant for his residence. Agents with the US Marshall’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team assisted in arresting Williams at the Arizona DOC prison in Florence where Williams works as a corrections officer.

Read More.

Officer Sheldon Czegledi Arrested for Prostitution

A Phoenix police officer was arrested during a prostitution sting in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Strike Team arrested Officer Sheldon Czegledi, 47, along with 14 others. According to a sheriff's office report, Czegledi approached a deputy working undercover as a decoy/female prostitute Friday night and solicited the deputy for sexual intercourse for a fee of $45. Czegledi then drove his vehicle into the parking lot of a motel. According to the report, he gave the deputy $5 as a deposit and stated he would return. Other deputies conducted a traffic stop and took Czegledi into custody. Czegledi is a 14-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department and is currently assigned as a patrol officer at Central City Precinct. Sgt. Steve Martos with the Phoenix Police Department said an administrative investigation will be launched.

Officer Robb Gray Evans Arrested for Sexual Abuse

The Flagstaff Police Department (FPD)arrested Arizona DPS Officer Robb Gray Evans of Flagstaff late Saturday night. Officers responded to the Greenroom Bar in Flagstaff to a report of a male subject who had inappropriately touched a 30 year old female.

According to officers, they were contacted by the employees of the Greenroom Bar who were out with the alleged suspect. Speaking to the female victim, she told officers she was standing at the bar when the suspect had come up behind her and began inappropriately touching her. The woman said she confronted the male suspect and reported the incident to bar employees.

The suspect identified himself to police as an Arizona DPA Officer which was later confirmed by FPD officers.

Evans has been booked into the Coconino County Jail for one count of Sexual Abuse and is being held on $50,000 bond. According to the FPD, the investigation is still on going.

Officer Seth Castillo Arrested Again for Drunk Driving

According to court documents, a Phoenix Police Officer that was arrested for drunk driving in Gilbert, has been arrested for DUI before.

FOX 10 has obtained court records that show officer Seth Castillo was arrested 8 years ago for driving while intoxicated, when he was 19 years of age.

Records show Castillo plead guilty to the charge back in 2002, well before he began working for the Phoenix Police Department.

Phoenix Police tell FOX 10 that a DUI arrest doesn't stop them from hiring an officer, and a DUI arrest for an officer on the force doesn't guarantee they'll be placed on administrative leave.

Officer Castillo is still patrolling city streets, just days after his latest DUI arrest.