JUNE 2, 1990 – HOMICIDE

SUSPECT ARRESTED BY COLD CASE DETAIL

On June 2, 1990, Tucson Police Department homicide detectives began an investigation into the death of Tucson resident Kenneth Geiger, 37. Mr. Geiger had checked into the Lazy 8 Motel on E. Benson Highway just before noon on June 1st. At 2:00 p.m. on the 2nd, motel employees found Mr. Geiger dead in his motel room. A subsequent autopsy ruled the death as a homicide.

Initial attempts to identify a suspect and solve this murder were unsuccessful, however the case has remained open. In January of 2007 this case was assigned to the Cold Case Detail, which is comprised of investigators from the Pima County Attorney’s Office and Tucson Police Department. Subsequent investigation revealed forensic evidence that linked former Tucsonan Thomas Trosper, 53, to the crime scene.

Earlier this month, Mr. Trosper was located in Brooksville, Florida by Tucson Police Department Cold Case detectives. The detectives traveled to Florida, and with the assistance of Brooksville Police Department detectives, they located and interviewed Mr. Trosper. Evidence gathered throughout the homicide investigation, combined with statements made to the detectives by Mr. Trosper resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder against Mr. Trosper for the death of Kenneth Geiger. During the early morning hours of March 26th, deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department arrested Mr. Trosper in Hernando County, Florida. Mr. Trosper is currently being held in the Hernando County Jail and is awaiting extradition proceedings.

On March 24, 2007 at 3:30 a.m., the Tucson Police Department received a report of a stabbing at an apartment complex at 334 W. Valencia. Responding officers from Operations Division South located Raul Castillo, 23, who had been stabbed once in the chest. Mr. Castillo was transported to an area hospital where he died in surgery. Mr. Castillo lived in an apartment at the complex where the stabbing occurred.

Detectives investigating this homicide learned that Mr. Castillo had been at a gathering in an apartment near his own when he was stabbed. Mr. Castillo was in a room of the apartment with another male and a resident of the apartment, Antoinette Monique Brown, 24. Ms. Brown began to argue with the other male and Mr. Castillo. During the argument, Ms. Brown produced a knife and began to waive it at both men. The second male attempted to disarm Ms. Brown, and Mr. Castillo stepped in to help him. During the struggle Ms. Brown stabbed Mr. Castillo.

Ms. Brown has been booked into the Pima County Jail and is charged with one count of Second Degree Murder.

1200 BLOCK E. GREENLEE

On March 23, 2007 at 12:11 a.m. the Tucson Police Department received a 911 report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1200 block of E. Greenlee Rd. While officers were responding, additional callers reported that gunshots had been heard. When officers arrived at the residence they found 20-year-old James N. Amberson, who had sustained gunshot trauma. Mr. Amberson was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers also found a second victim in the residence, a 24-year-old female, who had also suffered gunshot trauma. She was transported to an area hospital and is expected to survive. Homicide detectives are investigating this incident.

Detectives have learned that Mark Fernando Castaneda, 30, became involved in a verbal dispute with his girlfriend, who lives at the residence with Mr. Castaneda and Mr. Amberson. When the dispute turned physical and violent, Mr. Amberson intervened to prevent further assault on the woman by Mr. Castaneda. Mr. Castaneda then produced a handgun and shot Mr. Amberson. When the woman attempted to flee the residence, Mr. Castaneda also shot her.

Mr. Castaneda fled the area in his 1994 Red Mustang convertible (Arizona license # 135-WPA) and remains at large. Mr. Castaneda is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Mr. Castaneda’s whereabouts is asked to call 88-CRIME or 911.

On March 21, 2007, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Tucson Fire Department personnel and Operations Division East officers responded to the 6900 block of E. Golf Links Cir. reference a drowning.  When they arrived they found the victim, four year old Meika Johnson, unresponsive. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

TPD Dependent Child Unit (DCU) detectives responded and learned that Meika lived in the house with three older siblings and their legal guardian. The siblings were at school and Meika and the guardian were the only two at home.  The guardian had been in and out of the house, working in the yard and was planning on bathing Meika after the yard work was done.  When the guardian entered the house, she found Meika unresponsive in the bathtub.  The guardian removed Meika from the bathtub and called 911.  No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

10001 S. Wilmot Rd.

The Tucson Police Department is now accepting applications for the next Citizens’ Police Academy. The Academy will commence May 2, 2007 and continue for 15 consecutive Wednesdays with graduation on August 8, 2007. No class will be held on July 4th. Classes will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Demonstrations include the Service Dog Unit, Traffic, Air Support, and SWAT Units. Tours of the Crime Lab, Identification Section and Police Records and Police Communications will also be conducted.

The Citizens’ Police Academy, which began in 1995, is designed to provide the community with a greater understanding of the Tucson Police Department and its’ operations through class lectures as well as hands on experiences. The 14-week course provides attendees with the knowledge and understanding of the functions and responsibilities of providing law enforcement services in Tucson. The overall objective is to further our partnership in making Tucson a great place to live, work and raise our children.

Because of the dynamic nature of this experience, enrollment for this academy is limited to 55 attendees per session. For more information or to obtain an application, please visit the TPD website at http://tpdinternet.tucsonaz.gov/. All information is located in the Services section or contact Officer Steve Beller at (520) 791-5211 ext. 1114.

http://tpdinternet.tucsonaz.gov/Organization/units/Citizens_Police_Academy.html

While violent crimes continue to increase nationwide, the City of

For 2006, the Tucson Police Department took a proactive stance on attacking violent crimes in an effort to keep this trend from becoming a reality in our city. The Tucson Police Department continued its efforts to maintain appropriate officer staffing levels. In addition, the Special Investigations Division was created to deal directly with gang crime and illegal possession of firearms. We have found that criminals who are responsible for violent crimes will possess and use firearms regardless of their prohibited possessor status. Also, our Targeted Offender Program has been effective in directing police resources to high crime areas. Finally, our commitment towards furthering community relationships has paid dividends in controlling the violent crime rate in our city.

Violent crime index stats for

Homicides down 8.8%

Sexual assault down 22.2%

Robbery down 0.5%

Aggravated assault down 12.6%

It’s June 28 th in the border town of Nogales, Mexico. The fifth, and final, 4-man team of terrorist commandos is loading a contracted coyote’s van with their modest combat equipment and supplies: silenced pistols and sniper rifles, some explosive devices and hundreds of fountain-pen-sized incendiary detonators. Their first destination is Tucson, Arizona – where they join the other four teams that have already crossed the open southern US border. These twenty highly trained combatants, under the command and control of Colonel Naeem Rasoul in Damascus, Syria, are the main element of a terrorist attack on America that is global in scale.

On June 29 th two of Colonel Rasoul’s men in Canada execute their final orders. As a result, all commercial air traffic over and into the United States is suspended indefinitely. Taking full advantage of the ensuing chaos and confusion, the five teams acquire ground transportation for their nefarious purposes, and initiate their first diversionary attacks. By the end of the day, all but one of the teams, which is left behind to create further confusion and diversion, has been deployed throughout the western states.

On the last day of June all the teams are deployed and active. It’s at this point the reader really starts to see just how devastating these teams can be – despite not having any weapons of mass destruction. Their disturbingly efficient and utterly unconscionable approach to the mission objectives becomes obvious.

The next few mission days are rife with amazingly destructive precision attacks carried out on arbitrarily selected targets throughout the states west of the Mississippi, culminating with the July 4 thprimary mission targets. The author engages some unique storytelling techniques to craft a tale that smacks of novels written by retired generals and military historians. Great attention is paid to the realities of tactics and logistics, including frequent insertions of Tactical Maps. The result is an absorbing and unnerving story, and a terrifying confrontation with the reality: Americans are not safe!

The story concludes with a detailed mission debriefing delivered by Colonel Rasoul to his superiors in Damascus. During that debriefing, the colonel gives details on the successes of the first phase of the mission, and cursorily introduces the reader to his proposed second phase.

The bottom line: Two thumbs up. 9 on a scale of 10. This is not at all your usual terrorists attack America plot or storyline. This is a book that will become your constant companion from the moment you begin reading it until you finish the unnerving conclusion.

Terror In America – You Are Not Safe! By Ned Kalbfleish
terrorinamerica.com
ISBN: 978-0-9793316-1-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2007922625

On March 8, 2007, at approximately 2:30pm, deputies from the Rincon District responded to a serious injury collision at Via Madre and Summer Trail.  Upon arrival, they found a single motorcycle had collided with a street sign.  The driver, identified as Samuel Joseph Repp (DOB 10/07/51), was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The Pima County Sheriff’s Traffic Unit was called to further investigate the collision.

Upon initial investigation, it appears that Samuel Joseph Repp was traveling eastbound on Via Madre when he veered right off the shoulder and lost control.  He continued for approximately 50-60 yards before striking a street sign.  Mr. Repp was not wearing a helmet.

The investigation continues.

Oscar Armando Gomez-Gracia

On March 15, 2007, Mr. Gomez-Gracia’s brown 1994 Buick Park Avenue four door sedan was located in an apartment complex parking lot in the 1800 block of S. Pantano Rd. Evidence found inside the vehicle gave the appearance that someone may have been seriously injured. Detectives responded and learned Mr. Gomez –Gracia was last seen on March 14, 2007, wearing blue jean shorts, and a green shirt with white piping around the neck and sleeve. Mr. Gomez-Gracia is described as a Hispanic male, 32 years old, black hair, brown eyes, 5’ 8” and 175 pounds. He has a tattoo of The Virgin Mary on the back of his neck and a scar from his left eyebrow to the back of his head. Anyone with information about Mr. Gomez-Gracia’s whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

On March 15, 2007, at 01:09 a.m., officers from Operations Division West responded to reports of a “fight with a gun” at TD’s show club, 749 W. Miracle Mile. On arrival, officers spoke to employees who described a male who had waved a gun at several people outside the business. The employees further told the officers that the suspect had gone to the parking lot, south of the business.

Officer Glenn Cutlip, a 27-year veteran, and Officer Brandon Azuelo, went to the parking lot of the business. They saw a male matching the description given to them get into a 4-door sedan and leave the parking lot at a high rate of speed.

The officers followed the suspect vehicle as it traveled south on Glaris Avenue from the business. After traveling a few yards, the suspect vehicle crashed against a guardrail that marks the dead end for that street. The suspect immediately got out of the vehicle with a gun in his hand and ran east for a few yards, then north through a cul-de-sac.

Officer Cutlip released his service dog “Jack” and gave chase on foot along with Officer Azuelo. The suspect fired numerous times as the officers pursued him. Officers could hear the rounds whiz by them as they continued to pursue the suspect.

“Jack” caught up to the suspect in the 700 block of West Laguna Street in a residential yard. Officer Cutlip yelled commands at the suspect to “drop the gun”. His commands went unheeded. The armed suspect concealed his hand in his waistband and made a furtive move toward the officer. Officer Cutlip fired a single round at the suspect striking him. The suspect fell down and was detained without further incident.

Officers rendered aid to the suspect until Paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital. The suspect’s injuries are non-life threatening and he is expected to survive.

The suspect has been identified as Michael D. Williams, born in August of 1981, and a resident in Surprise, Arizona. He will be booked into the Pima County Jail on several counts of Aggravated Assault. More charges may be forthcoming. His photograph will be available for release after he is booked.