Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from June 5-7

PHOENIX — Protests continue in the Valley, an officer-involved shooter leaves a Mesa man in critical condition and the state surpasses 1,040 coronavirus deaths.

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

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Protests continue across the Valley for 11th consecutive day

Protesters have gathered throughout the Valley for the 11th consecutive day.

The demonstrations are in response to the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Dion Johnson in Phoenix.

Protests in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Goodyear and Gilbert were scheduled for Sunday.

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DPS troopers involved in Mesa shooting, suspect in critical condition

One man is in critical condition after an officer-involved shooting Saturday in Mesa.

As of 2:17 p.m. on Sunday, the suspect remained in critical, yet stable, condition, authorities said, after crashing his vehicle and being shot by police.

The suspect was said to be driving erratically without the use of headlights before flipping the vehicle several times.

Police said the suspect then began threatening to kill DPS troopers after exiting his vehicle from the driver’s side window.

“Believing the object to possibly be a weapon, two DPS officers fired their weapons striking the suspect at least twice,” an email from Mesa PD said.

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Arizona reports 1,438 new coronavirus cases, two additional deaths

The Arizona health department reported 1,438 new coronavirus cases Sunday morning.

With two additional fatalities, Arizona documented totals stand at 26,889 cases and 1,044 deaths.

The five highest daily number of new cases reported have come in the last six days, with the most ever in a daily update being over 1,500 on Friday.

More than 393,000 combined tests for active COVID-19 infections (PCR testing) and antibodies (serology testing) have been given in Arizona, including 12,334 added to the total Sunday.

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Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams joins downtown protesters

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams on Friday joined in with protesters in downtown Phoenix who showed up for the ninth consecutive day in response to the killing of George Floyd.

Williams marched with protesters to Phoenix Police headquarters, located near Seventh Street and Washington Avenue.

“We hear you,” Williams said to protesters. “You have forced us to hear you by your constant and incessant demonstration and wanting something different. We hear you.”

Williams said she was invited by protesters to help push forward the conversation.

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Maricopa County health official says spread of coronavirus has increased

Maricopa County’s top public health official said Friday that coronavirus cases in metro Phoenix have increased and that it’s not necessarily due to a testing jump.

Marcy Flanagan, the county’s public health executive director, said there are signs that community spread of COVID-19 is growing beyond what was expected because of the state’s reopening.

“We are starting to see some indicators that the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in Maricopa County and we have enough information to know these increases are not due to just an increase in testing that is occurring,” Flanagan said during a press conference.

Hospitalizations in the county due to COVID-19 have also increased, while ICU bed availability has decreased.

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