This is an update…

On March 12th, the Pima County Grand Jury indited Christopher Payne for two counts of First-Degree Murder (Class 1 Felony), three counts of Child Abuse (C-2-F) and two counts of Abandonment / Concealment of a Dead Body (C-5-F) for the deaths of his children, Tyler and Ariana Payne. Detectives from the Dependant Child Unit are now attempting to locate Tyler Payne’s remains. This case is considered to be an on-going investigation.  At this time, the Tucson Police Department cannot comment on the Grand Jury proceedings that led to the indictment Mr. Payne. 

Anyone that may have information as to the whereabouts of Tyler Payne is asked to call 88-CRIME, 911 or the Tucson PD tip line @ 791-4499 Ext. 1238.

Feb. 16, 2007 

If you know of an individual or organization that is influencing change within your community or within the

The award, named in honor of PAG’s longest serving executive director, was established in June 2004 in memory of the strong regional leadership exemplified by Swanson. 

The criteria for the award include the following: 

●The recipient must enhance the regional community despite often restrictive jurisdictional boundaries. 

●The recipient must promote cooperation among citizens and local elected officials. 

●The recipient must provide leadership for regional growth via strong local government representation. 

Swanson distinguished himself throughout his career by working in cooperation with all segments of the region to address regional issues, such as transportation, population growth, air quality and water quality. 

Nominations must be received no later than March 23, 2007. The award recipient will be announced at a future meeting of PAG’s Regional Council. 

For nomination forms or other information, please visit www.pagnet.org or contact Melissa Minerich, PAG Marketing Representative, at (520) 792-1093. You also may pick up a nomination form at Pima Association of Governments,

. 

Pima Association of Governments is an association of local, state and tribal governments with a mission to build consensus among its members and the public on regional planning for transportation, air quality and water quality. PAG’s staff gather and analyze data, provide accurate information, and coordinate an open and cooperative planning process to promote good decision-making for the region.

The Thomas L. Swanson Regional Leadership Award was established by Pima Association of Governments (PAG) Regional Council in June 2004 in dedication to the late Thomas L. Swanson, former Executive Director of PAG. Mr. Swanson distinguished himself throughout his career by working in cooperation with all segments of our community to address regional issues such as transportation, population growth, air quality and water quality.

Log into http://www.familywatchdog.us/ and you’ll be able to plug in your Tucson Arizona zipcode and get listings of registered sexual predators – and a whole lot more information on keeping you and your family safer.

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Gang Immigration and Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission
Operation Full Court Press Update

This news release provides update information on enforcement activity from the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Gang Immigration and Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (G.II.T.E.M.) Arizona Border Strike Force’s (ABSF) Operation Full Court Press. As part of the state-wide enforcement efforts to detect narcotics trafficking within the State of Arizona, DPS Officers from the Northern Division conducted the following investigations:

On Thursday, March 1, 2007, at approximately 1240 hours, an Arizona Department of Public Safety K-9 Officer initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 17 Milepost 294, on a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pick up truck for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the Officer observed indicators consistent with trafficking in illegal contraband. Consent to search was obtained from the driver. The Officer deployed his K-9 partner who alerted on the front portion of the load bed of the vehicle. A search of this area of the vehicle revealed a false compartment, which contained $292,540.00 in U.S. Currency. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed and stated that his ultimate destination was Mexico and denied any knowledge and disclaimed the large quantity of cash. The driver was released and the vehicle and cash were seized.

On Thursday, March 1, 2007, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Officer initiated a traffic stop on a commercial vehicle for traffic violations. During the traffic stop, the Officer observed indicators consistent with trafficking in illegal contraband. As the officer conducted the inspection of the truck, he located 1577 pounds of Marijuana located in the trailer of the vehicle. The vehicle was destined for Detroit, Michigan. The street value of the Marijuana located was determined to be worth approximately 3.1 million dollars in the Detroit, Michigan area.

Follow up investigations are being conducted in a cooperative effort with Arizona Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations, the Arizona Department of Public Safety K-9 District, the Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, and the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. The mission of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the most dynamic state-level law enforcement agency in Arizona, is to protect human life and property by enforcing state laws, deterring criminal activity, assuring the safety of the motoring public on Arizona’s highways and providing vital scientific, technical and operational support to other criminal justice agencies.

The Department, also one of Arizona’s largest law enforcement agencies with some 2,200 sworn and civilian employees, consists of four divisions – Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Criminal Justice Support and Agency Support. The Department is headquartered in Phoenix and has offices located in more than 30 communities within Arizona’s 15 counties.

2007 11TH Annual
Southwest Police Motorcycle
Training and Competition

April 27-28, 2007
The Southwest Police Motorcycle Training and Competition is an opportunity for police motorcycle riders from the Southwest United States to promote quality motor officer training, and to share training ideas.  The event also promotes motor officer proficiency and riding skills.  As usual, all proceeds from this event will go to benefit Arizona Special Olympics.

The training and competition will be limited to the first 100 applicants.  As soon as applications with payment are received, an information packet with rules and exercises will be sent.  The application fee is $50.00.  Checks should be made out to F.O.P. #1/SPMTC and mailed to:

Detective Sue Earley

Tucson Police Department, Traffic Division

7575 E. Speedway, Suite 100

Tucson, AZ  85710

Phone:   520/791-4389; Fax 520/791-5423

SPMTC has contracted with Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N Oracle Rd.  For SPMTC participants and guests, the rate at the hotel is $99 per night plus tax.  A block of rooms has been reserved for SPMTC until April 3, 2007.  You may make your reservations by calling (520) 544-5000 -be sure to mention SPMTC when making your reservations.  Participants will receive one ticket for the Awards Banquet on Saturday night.  Additional tickets may be purchased for $25.00 each.

The Oro Valley Police Department is hosting a Steak Fry Friday April 27th.  Tickets may be purchased for $10 per person (Children 10 and under will receive a free hotdog or hamburger).

Entry fee and all event ticket requests must be received by April 13, 2007.

Contact Sgt. Mary Kay Slyter at 520/791-4440 with any questions.

On March 8, 2007, at approximately 10:55 p.m., Officers from Operations Division Midtown responded to reports of a shooting in the 4500 block of E. 25th Street.
Upon arrival, officers found Juan Carlos Escoto-Ortega, 29, inside his home with gunshot trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives responded to investigate. No motive has been established and no suspects have been identified at this time.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

On March 3, 2007 at 2:08 a.m., officers from Operations Division Midtown responded to a residence in the area of E. Fort Lowell Rd./N. 1st Ave. reference a 911 call. Upon arrival, officers located 21 year-old Charles Alvin Eisner inside a residence with obvious trauma. Mr. Eisner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tucson Police Department Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and continue to investigate the incident. More information will be released, as it becomes available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.