85 citations issued at 'Occupy' protest
Tucson police issued 85 citations to Occupy Tucson protesters over the weekend for remaining at Armory Park after closing hours.
The protesters were arrested, given a criminal citation and released at the scene, Sgt. Matt Ronstadt, a Tucson Police Department spokesman, said in a news release. Police cited 32 people Sunday and 53 Saturday.
About 200 people attended the event on Sunday, and an estimated 1,000 participated on Saturday. Demonstrators continue to occupy the downtown park.
Veronica M. Cruz
Border agent fires at vehicle in Cochise
SIERRA VISTA - A Border Patrol agent fired a gunshot Monday after he tried to stop a vehicle and the driver drove toward him, the president of the union representing border agents said.
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George McCubbin, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said the agent had already exited his vehicle south of Sierra Vista by the time the other vehicle was headed toward him and endangering him.
McCubbin said the vehicle sped away, and the driver eventually ditched the vehicle and ran away.
Border Patrol spokesman Mario Escalante said no one was injured in the shooting Monday afternoon.
FBI spokesman Manuel Johnson in Phoenix said his agency sent agents to the scene in Cochise County. The FBI later issued a statement confirming that the vehicle tried to hit the Border Patrol agent.
The Associated Press
DPS seeks help to find hit-and-run driver
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is asking the public for help finding a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash.
On Oct 11, about 8:30 p.m., a light green Subaru Outback was eastbound on Interstate 10 near South Palo Verde Road when it was struck from behind by another vehicle, causing the Subaru to go over the guardrail. The Subaru landed in the northbound lanes of Palo Verde Road, and the driver was injured.
DPS officers are looking for a light-colored, possibly silver, Mitsubishi or a small compact car. Witnesses gave a partial Arizona license plate of AFF_47.
The hit-and-run car got off I-10 and went north on Palo Verde Road, authorities said. A man was driving and a woman was a passenger.
The vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage on the left side, DPS said.
Anyone with information is asked to call DPS at 746-4500 or 88-CRIME.
Carmen Duarte
Police correct name of fatal-crash suspect
Tucson police say they initially misspelled the names of a man arrested in connection with a fatal two-car collision at a northwest-side intersection Saturday.
Damaso Alavez, 21, was booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, endangerment and criminal damage in the death of Stephen J. Larson, 29. In earlier reports, police identified Alavez as Demaso Alvarez.
Larson, who was driving to work, was hit by a car that was racing at North Oracle and West River roads at about 2:35 a.m. Saturday, police said.
Carmen Duarte
Man gets 10 years in fatal beating
A Sahuarita man who beat his father to death in August 2010 received a mitigated 10-year prison sentence Monday.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini cited Brandon Tucker's abusive childhood, mental health issues and family support as reasons for her decision. Tucker, 25, could have received up to 22 years in prison.
Tucker was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his father, Thomas Tucker, 58.
During his August trial, jurors were told Brandon Tucker and his father were at a neighbor's house when the younger Tucker was told to leave. Thomas Tucker followed his son home, saying he needed to "whoop the boy," witnesses said.
Soon after, Thomas Tucker was found mortally wounded in the front yard of his home near West Sahuarita Road and South Mission Road. An autopsy showed he suffered fractured ribs and jaw, a lacerated spleen and a head injury.
Public defenders Suzanne Crawford and Adam Page said their client acted in self-defense. Prosecutor Nicol Green said Tucker intentionally killed him.
Kim Smith
Tucson man sentenced to 12 years for assault
A Tucson man was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison and lifetime probation for sexually assaulting a woman he met at a bus stop.
The woman told police she was at a bus stop on April 10 when Anthony Halula Jr., 43, made sexually graphic comments to her. She got off the bus a few stops later and went to a fast-food restaurant. Moments later, Halula came into the restaurant and made more comments.
The woman said Halula followed her to another bus stop. When she decided to walk home, he followed her, forced her into bushes and sexually assaulted her.
Halula pleaded guilty to kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he could have received between 8.25 and 35.25 years in prison.
Kim Smith
South-side fire ruled arson; woman missing
A fire at a south-side apartment complex Oct. 5 has been ruled an arson, and the woman who lived there is still missing, officials said.
Firefighters were called to the San Marin Apartments at 5650 S. Park Ave., around 1:20 p.m.
But since before the fire broke out, the tenant, Jessica Nuanez, 27, has not been seen, said Sgt. Maria Hawke, a Tucson police spokeswoman. Police do not believe she was hurt in the fire.
The woman's 2003 champagne-colored Hummer H2 with temporary Arizona license plate 9P08D4 is also missing, Hawke said.
Police ask anyone with information to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
Veronica M. Cruz
Judge denies new trial in Renteria case
Daniel Renteria, who was convicted of negligent homicide after going to trial four times, was denied a new trial Monday.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Fields said Renteria received "an absolutely fair trial" despite arguments made to the contrary by Renteria's attorney, Natasha Wrae.
Renteria, 29, was convicted of negligent homicide in last year's death of Richard Rue Jr. and acquitted in the death of James Marschinke. Renteria told jurors he believed Marschinke raped his 3-year-old son and claimed Rue threatened to kill him.
The Pima County Attorney's Office took Renteria to trial four times after three juries were unable to reach a unanimous decision.
Renteria faces a mandatory prison sentence of between four and eight years when sentenced Oct. 26.
Kim Smith
Illegal immigrant dies of exposure by Nogales
A Mexican illegal immigrant, 26, died of exposure. Agents found him unconscious Friday in the desert near Nogales, Border Patrol spokesman Brent Cagen said Monday. He was airlifted to a hospital but died Saturday. The man's cousin, who was with him, told agents that smugglers abandoned the pair when his cousin couldn't keep up.
The Associated Press
On StarNet: Find an interactive map of reported crimes in the city of Tucson, updated every morning with the previous day's data, at azstarnet.com/crimemap
