Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Aug. 7-9

From the city of Chandler discontinuing its use of Flock automated license plate reader cameras to a deadly crash in Scottsdale, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from Aug. 7-9.

Chandler drops Flock license plate reader cameras after audit flags potential misuse

The city of Chandler is discontinuing its use of Flock automated license plate reader cameras after a routine audit flagged potential misuse of the system by a department employee, police Chief Bryan Chapman said Thursday.

The city will not renew its service agreement with Flock and has immediately restricted all Chandler police personnel from accessing the system, Chapman said at a news conference.

The audit, conducted through Flock’s Auto Assist function, identified an anomaly that could not be explained through standard police work. It was the first such flag in nearly three years of using the technology, Chapman said.

“We immediately launched an internal investigation to determine exactly what happened,” Chapman noted. “Part of that investigation will be to determine if Flock was used inappropriately, and if so, discipline will follow.”

‘T-bone type’ crash in Scottsdale leaves 1 dead, 1 in critical condition, police say

A person is dead, and another is in critical condition after a crash in Scottsdale on Friday morning, authorities said.

Crews responded to a T-bone type collision involving two cars at Pima and Pinnacle Peak roads around 9:20 a.m., according to the Scottsdale Police Department.

One person died from their injuries after being taken to a nearby hospital.

Harry & Izzy’s steakhouse announces opening state for Arizona debut

A legendary staple of the Midwest dining scene is officially making its way to the Valley.

Harry & Izzy’s, a modern American grill rooted in Indianapolis, will open its doors at the reimagined Paradise Valley mall development on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The 8,300-square-foot restaurant marks the brand’s very first location outside of Indiana.

“Opening Harry & Izzy’s in the Valley marks an exciting new chapter for our team and our family of restaurants,” Craig Huse, CEO of Huse Culinary, said in a statement. “We’ve built our brands around exceptional food, genuine hospitality and creating memorable experiences, and we’re honored to bring that tradition to Paradise Valley.”

Glendale firefighters deliver endangered birthday cakes after grocery store blaze

Glendale firefighters ensured that people’s special days weren’t ruined by delivering their birthday cakes after an exterior fire at a local grocery store recently.

Due to the blaze, the store’s utilities had to be secured, causing the refrigerated cases holding multiple birthday cakes that were supposed to be picked up that day to be shut off.

To prevent the incident from ruining community members’ celebrations, the crew of Engine/Hazmat 157 stepped in and bought the cakes.

Arizona sheriff cancels Flock camera contract, citing Fourth Amendment worries

Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple told the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday that he will not renew his office’s contract with Flock Safety, the surveillance-camera company whose automated license plate readers have drawn growing opposition across Arizona.

The contract expires at the end of September. Pinal County is among the largest jurisdictions in the state to drop the technology, joining Flagstaff, Sedona and South Tucson. Just today, Chandler ended their Flock camera contract.

Teeple said the cameras are capable of far more than reading license plates, including facial recognition, live video streaming and AI-driven pattern recognition that can track residents’ daily movements.

“We have a camera system that can do facial recognition technology and can start building a data set on what our citizens are doing on a day-to-day basis,” Teeple told supervisors. “That, in my training and experience, is a huge Fourth Amendment violation.”

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