Detectives from the Neighborhood Crimes Section and officers from the Community Response Team of Operations Division West initiated an undercover cigarette trafficking operation in September of this year. Several convenience stores throughout the city were the victims of aggressive theft of cigarette products. Detectives arrested suspects in these thefts and learned that the stolen goods were being purchased by two stores for about half the price of what they are worth.

A series of undercover sales of cigarettes, offered below the fair market value, were conducted at the two suspect locations; the AZ Smokeshop, 2623 N. 1st Ave., and The In and Out, 2756 N. Stone. As the investigation progressed, detectives learned that narcotics were also being sold from these locations.

On December 6, 2006, SWAT officers executed search warrants simultaneously at both locations. Two people inside the businesses were armed and were taken into custody without incident. Detectives recovered several cases of cigarettes, crack cocaine, cash, and marijuana, among other things.

Aziz Duqmaq, 12/1984 and Michael F. Grado, 06/1978, were arrested on various charges including illegal conducting of a criminal enterprise, theft by control, trafficking in stolen property and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Their photographs are available through the Public Information Section.

Date:  December 10, 2006
Contact:  Officer Dallas Wilson

HOMICIDE
Greenway / Honeysuckle

On December 10, 2006, there was a traffic altercation between two vehicles at Benson Highway and Campbell. Gang signs were flashed and the vehicles stopped at Greenway and Honeysuckle. The victim, Tucson resident Mario Lona, 22 exited the vehicle to confront the suspects. Shots were fired and Mario was struck. 911 received reports of shots being fired in the area at 3:16 a.m. The other occupants of the car transported him to the hospital were he was later pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect?s vehicle. It is either a blue or gray SUV, possibly a Mitsubishi Montero, occupied by four Hispanic males. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

December 6, 2006 – Clear Channel has graciously donated a billboard in hopes of assisting law enforcement in the apprehension of Jesus Manuel Moran (DOB 01/14/67).  The billboard has been placed on the southwest corner of Nebraska and 6th Avenue. 

Mr. Moran is wanted for one count of Manslaughter, nine counts of Endangerment, and one count of Criminal Damage resulting from a 2002 collision on State Route 86, Mile Post 164.  Mr. Moran was responsible for a three vehicle collision in which Elijah Archuleta, a seven-month old child, was killed.  A DUI investigation revealed that Mr. Moran was intoxicated while driving his vehicle the night of the collision.  Mr. Moran had originally provided law enforcement the name of Guadalupe Bustamonte as his legal name.  A warrant was issued under the name Guadalupe Bustamonte in 2004.  An attempt to locate Bustamonte was unsuccessful, however through 88-CRIME tips, and additional investigation, it was discovered that Bustamonte’s real name is in fact Jesus Manuel Moran.  The warrant was amended under the correct name.

In April 2006, the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation offered reward funds in the amount of $5,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Jesus Manuel Moran.  88-CRIME has offered a reward up to $1,000.00 and the Archuleta family has made a $1,000.00 offer. 

The Archuleta family will make themselves available for questions on Thursday, December 7, 2006, at 1:00pm at the billboard site.

Anyone with information about Jesus Manuel Moran is encouraged to contact Sammy Almodova of the Fugitive Unit at 351-4844 or 88-CRIME.

PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
1750 East Benson Highway
Tucson, Arizona 85714
(520) 741-4600

On December 9, 2006 at 8:30 a.m., officers from Operations Division South responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision on S. 12th Ave. at W. Santa Maria St. Tucson Police Department Traffic Unit Detectives were called out to the scene to investigate.

Detectives determined a 1997 Hyundai Accent driven by Magin Moreno Cota, 48, was traveling westbound across S. 12th Ave. on W. Santa Maria St. and failed to yield to a 1997 Dodge Stratus traveling south on S. 12th Ave., resulting in the collision. The westbound Hyundai Accent was also occupied by a front seat passenger, Danisa E. Florez-Cota, 41, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Mr. Cota was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The driver and sole occupant of the southbound Dodge Stratus, a 27 year-old male, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The collision is still under investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.

On November 10, 2005, at approximately 7:23pm, three male bodies were found in the desert area near Avra Valley Road, west of Pump Station Road.  The bodies were identified as:

Rafael Monreal-Maldonado, DOB: 09/21/82
Francisco Monreal-Maldonado, DOB: 10/04/78
Juan Carlos Flores-Diaz, DOB: 03/23/63
All three men died from gunshot wounds.

The investigation has lead Homicide detectives to seek a warrant for the arrest of Daniel G. Gastelum for three counts of 1st Degree Murder.  Mr. Gastelum is believed to be residing in Mexico; however, he has family ties to the Tucson area as well. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Daniel G. Gastelum is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

A photograph of Daniel G. Gastelum is available at the Sheriff’s Administration Building, 1750 E. Benson Hwy.