Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from April 30-May 2
May 2, 2021, 6:04 PM | Updated: 7:26 pm
Chandler Police held a candlelight vigil Saturday in memory of fallen Officer Christopher Farrar, who was killed during a pursuit. (Facebook photo/Chandler Police Department)
(Facebook photo/Chandler Police Department)
PHOENIX — A man arrested in the death of Chandler police Officer Christopher Farrar on Friday will face charges of murder and other crimes, a new kind of brew pub experience has opened in Phoenix and two people died while five others were injured following a crash involving an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper near Wickenburg on Friday night.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Police: Man to face murder, other charges in Chandler officer’s death
A man arrested in the death of one Arizona police officer and the serious injury of another after they were struck by a stolen vehicle will face charges of murder and other crimes, police said.
Jonathan Altland, 25, was transported to a hospital for unspecified injuries after being taken into custody late Thursday night at a Gilbert auto dealership where Chandler police Officer Christopher Farrar was fatally injured and Gilbert police Officer Rico Aranda suffered a head injury, the Gilbert Police Department said Friday night in a statement.
The statement released Friday night said Altland “is facing charges of murder, aggravated assault and auto theft.”
The incident began about 10 p.m. Thursday when a sheriff’s deputy in nearby Pinal County tried to pull over a vehicle for speeding.
Self-serve taproom Tap That opens in downtown Phoenix
A new kind of brew pub experience has opened along Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix.
Tap That Downtown, located at 909 N. Fifth Street, is a self-serve taproom offering a constantly rotating selection of 35 craft beers and wines from Arizona breweries.
Patrons will be given a device with RFID technology created by iPourIt that can activate the taps and track each person’s tab. Screens at each tap show how many ounces have been poured.
The restaurant features a full menu of pub fare, including poutine with stout gravy and soft pretzels with IPA cheese. It also plans to host events such as live music and Paint & Sip nights.
2 dead, 5 injured following crash involving DPS trooper
Two people are dead and five others were injured following a crash involving an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper near Wickenburg on Friday night.
Around 8:30 p.m., a DPS trooper responded to a call of a disabled motorist on southbound US 93 near milepost 174. Three people inside an SUV said they were low on gas and didn’t believe they would make it to Wickenburg.
Authorities said the trooper assured the SUV occupants that they would have enough fuel and offered to follow them to Wickenburg to ensure they arrived safely.
As the trooper began to follow the SUV, another car driving northbound was seen speeding and passing vehicles in a no-passing zone, authorities said.
That vehicle hit both the SUV and the trooper’s vehicle. The SUV overturned and the trooper’s vehicle burst into flames, DPS said.
One person in the speeding car died at the scene. Two other passengers inside were taken to Valley hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
One occupant of the overturned SUV died at the scene. The two other occupants were transported to Valley hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The DPS trooper was transported by air to a Phoenix-area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Scottsdale PD searching for 6 suspects linked to Fashion Square looting
The Scottsdale Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify six suspects in relation to the looting at the Fashion Square mall last year.
Authorities have arrested 57 people in connection to the May 30, 2020, night of vandalism and have returned over $241,000 worth of merchandise to the businesses, according to a past press release.
Fashion Square closed after the incident and didn’t reopen until June 10, with Urban Outfitters, the Apple Store and Neiman Marcus being among the stores that sustained damage.
Babies from a variety of species arrive at Wildlife World Zoo
The Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park in Litchfield Park has had a busy spring welcoming babies from multiple species to the zoo family.
A baby African leopard, baby warthogs and black backed jackal pups are the newest additions to the more than 6,000 animals on display at the park.
All of the young animals have been receiving around-the-clock care by the experienced Wildlife World hand raising team and two veterinarians inside the zoo’s nursery, according to the zoo.
Other babies on display throughout the 100-acre park include a tapir, giraffe, endangered addax and Arabian oryx.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
