Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from March 6-8

Here are some of the top stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend of March 6-8.

BY TORRENCE DUNHAM

Mar 8, 2020, 8:03 PM Updated: Mar 9, 2020, 3:48 pm

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(Facebook photo/Arizona Department of Health Services)

Arizona coronavirus cases grow to five, an Arizona man was sentenced to 30 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to filing false federal tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, and Col. Frank Milstead is planning to retire as Arizona DPS director.

Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.

Arizona coronavirus cases at 5 total, 2 new patients from Pinal County

Two new patients in Pinal County returned presumptive positive cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to five patients so far in Arizona.

A healthcare worker who lives in Pinal County but works in Maricopa County was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus on Friday.

The two cases announced Saturday morning stemmed from the same household as the healthcare worker who was announced to have contracted the illness on Friday, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Arizona man receives 30-month sentence for false tax return claims

An Arizona man was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $11,000 in restitution, the IRS announced in a press release on Wednesday.

Kevin Jeffory Rocheteau was sentenced on Monday and had previously pleaded guilty to filing false federal tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

“Individuals who file false tax returns undermine our system and steal from the American people,” U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey said in the release.

Col. Frank Milstead planning to retire as Arizona DPS director

After five years as Arizona’s top law enforcement official, Col. Frank Milstead is planning to retire, KTAR News 92.3 FM confirmed Saturday. The official announcement is expected Monday morning.

KTAR News has learned the expected replacement is DPS Deputy Director Lt. Col. Heston Silbert.

Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Milstead as director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety in February 2015.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, Col. Ralph T. Milstead, who was director in the 1980s.

Tempe firefighter Tommy Arriaga dies of job-related cancer at age 37

Tempe firefighter Tommy Arriaga died Friday morning of cancer contracted while in the line of duty, the city announced.

Arriaga, 37, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2019. The cancer was determined to be related to his job, the city said.

He is survived by his wife, Monica, and two young daughters ages 7 and 3.

“Tommy effortlessly demonstrated passion, humility and perseverance throughout his life and career with the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department,” Fire Chief Greg Ruiz said in a press release.

Arizona DPS re-inspected school buses following criminal investigation

The Arizona Department of Public Safety inspected 1,294 school buses after a former DPS employee’s conduct raised suspicions.

Last November, AZDPS received a complaint alleging that Trooper Steve Powers had misused a department vehicle, according to a press release.

An internal investigation discovered that Powers may have violated the law while assigned to the Department’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau.

The Department’s Criminal Investigations Division then took over the case and discovered conflicting information as to whether or not Powers’ school bus inspections were conducted to the Department’s standards, according to the release.