Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Dec. 3-5
Dec 5, 2021, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:55 pm
(Pixabay photo)
(Pixabay photo)
PHOENIX — The Arizona prison system is implementing new safety measures after two inmates escaped last winter, over 100 pounds of cocaine was seized at a port of entry near the California state line, and Eegee’s set an opening date for its second East Valley location.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Arizona prison system implements changes after reviewing January escape
The Arizona prison system announced new safety measures Friday following a review of how two inmates escaped last winter in an incident that sparked an intense five-day manhunt.
David Harmon and John Charpiot escaped from the medium-security South Unit at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence on Jan. 23 by breaking into a tool shed and stealing bolt-cutters and other items they then used to cut through an exterior fence.
Harmon and Charpiot were captured Jan. 28 by Coolidge police officers and U.S. Marshals deputies in a farm field less than 15 miles from the prison.
Officers seize over 100 pounds of cocaine at Arizona-California border
Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement and Compliance Division officers seized over 100 pounds of cocaine on Tuesday at a port of entry near the California state line, authorities said.
During a routine inspection at the Topock Port of Entry on Interstate 40, officers directed a commercial vehicle to an area where a drug-sniffing dog from one of the agency’s K-9 units detected illegal substances, according to an ADOT press release.
When the officers searched the vehicle, they found boxes with multiple bundles of cocaine, which weighed about 112 pounds combined.
The driver of the vehicle, Gurvinder Singh, 40, of India, was arrested on suspicion of multiple drug charges, including transportation of narcotic drugs for sale, ADOT said.
Eegee’s opening Mesa location, its second in the East Valley, in mid-December
Eegee’s has set an opening date for its second foray into the East Valley, this time in Mesa.
The Tucson-based fast-food chain will open its spot near Crismon Road and U.S. 60 on Dec. 14, according to a press release.
One person who shows up on opening day and posts a photo to Eegee’s social media will be randomly selected to win free food for a year.
The 2,300-square-foot space will have separate walk-up and pickup windows, and a dining room that seats 30 people.
Phoenix man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for ammunition smuggle attempt
A Valley man was sentenced to over three years in prison on Wednesday for attempting to smuggle ammunition from the United States into Mexico last year, authorities said.
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers performed a traffic stop on May 4, 2020, and found almost 6,000 rounds of ammunition and 30 ammunition magazines, according to a press release.
Mauricio Robles, 26, of Phoenix, the only passenger and owner of the vehicle, along with Arlando Torres, 36, of Texas, had intentions to give the ammunition to other people who would then smuggle it from the U.S. into Mexico on behalf of an unnamed criminal organization in exchange for payment, the release said.
Scottsdale man accused of stealing millions in music royalties
A Scottsdale man is one of two people accused of stealing millions of dollars in music royalties over the past five years, authorities said Wednesday.
Jose Teran, 36, was indicted on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, transactional money laundering, and aggravated identity theft for his alleged role since 2016.
Teran and 38-year-old Webster Batista of Doral, Florida, are said to have falsely represented themselves to collect more than $20 million in royalty payments for music that was monetized through a third-party company, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said in a press release.
The two men in February 2017 alleged their company, MediaMuv, had the legal right to monetize more than 50,000 songs.
