Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Jan. 20-22
Jan 22, 2023, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:22 pm
Kris Mayes is holding Google accountable for alleged anticompetitive behavior on the Google Play Store. (Getty Images File Photo)
(Getty Images File Photo)
PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said it will continue using a mass surveillance program, firefighters extinguished a restaurant fire in Phoenix on Friday and two people allegedly tied to homicides on New Year’s Day were arrested.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Arizona Attorney General’s Office says it will continue using mass surveillance program
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said a mass surveillance program it engineers will continue despite a report this week claiming the operation is illegal.
AG Kris Mayes’ office collects money transfer records for transactions of $500 or more sent to or from Arizona, California, Mexico, New Mexico and Texas and stores it in a database that is shared with law enforcement, an effort it says helps fight crime.
A report published Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union contends the program has resulted in at least 140 illegal subpoenas and disproportionally affects those most vulnerable to law enforcement overreach.
Firefighters extinguish abandoned restaurant fire in Phoenix
A second-alarm fire at an abandoned restaurant in Phoenix caused closures to an intersection and light rail stops on Friday evening.
Firefighters responded to the area of 24th and Washington streets at approximately 5:30 p.m. for what was initially a first-alarm fire before it was upgraded, the Phoenix Fire Department tweeted.
Phoenix Fire said all four directions of the intersection were closed off for an unknown amount of time. Valley Metro light rail stops between 16th and 32nd streets also closed for an unknown period of time in both directions.
Phoenix police arrest 2 New Year’s Day murder suspects
Two men accused in the murder of a 19-year-old man on New Year’s Day were arrested on Thursday, Phoenix police said.
Gary Green, 35, and Randale Thomas, 30, were booked into the Maricopa County Jail on first-degree murder and other felony charges in connection with the shooting death of Leon Greer and a non-life-threatening gunshot wound of another man, the Phoenix Police Department said in a press release.
The shooting occurred just before 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 while Greer and the other man were driving near the intersection of Jefferson and 16th streets, authorities said.
Shooting suspect arrested after 18-year-old killed in Scottsdale
The suspect who allegedly shot an 18-year-old dead in Scottsdale on Saturday was arrested in Pinal County on Sunday, authorities said.
Officers responded to a reported shooting at an apartment complex near Scottsdale and McDowell roads around 5:30 p.m., the Scottsdale Police Department said.
Terrivonni Santana Williams was found inside the apartment with gunshot wounds, police said.
City of Mesa unveils new facility with 5 multi-sport fields
The city of Mesa on Saturday celebrated the grand opening of a new facility featuring five multi-sport fields that will primarily be used for soccer.
Kids took the pitch to begin playing after a brief program and a ceremonial goal kick to officially unveil Lehi Sports Park near Center Street and the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway.
Each of the fields have LED lighting, while two of the fields are also equipped with cameras for live streaming of games through an app. It’s the first sports field in the Valley to use the MuscoVision technology, which was donated to the project, according to the release.
