Stories from the Southern Arizona Auto Theft Detail
by Tucson Citizen on May. 31, 2006, under LocalDec. 8, 2005
While on a training mission, members of the Tucson Police Department Air Support Unit observed what they believed was a stolen vehicle abandoned in the desert near Avra Valley and Red Rock. Along with the pilot, Officer Bill Ambrose went to the area to determine if it had been stolen. The 2005 Nissan Frontier quad cab 4×4 had not been reported stolen but its lights had been covered with duct tape and the rear seats had been taken out, an indication that is was being used to smuggle people. Ambrose determined that it had been stolen from a dealership in the Phoenix area although it had not yet been reported stolen. Near the vehicle was a stockpile of tires, water and gasoline, indicating it was an an area used for illegal trafficking.
Feb. 27, 2006
While on patrol, officers noticed a Ford 350 diesel quad cab truck parked behind a hotel in the Marana area. The truck had not been reported stolen, but the door and ignition had been “punched out” or broken. While attempts were made to find the owner, the Task Force members disabled the vehicle by disengaging the batteries. While surveillance was being done on the truck, the owner reported the truck stolen. Eventually four suspects came up to the truck and tried to take it. All four were arrested, and because of the arrests they were able to clear three other auto theft cases. The truck, valued at nearly $50,000 was returned to its owner.
April 30, 2006
Sgt. David Azuelo noticed a stolen Honda in the parking lot of the Travelodge in the 4900 block of west Ina Road. The Honda had two bullet holes in the roof and it looked as if the rounds had been fired from inside the car. Further investigation told the task force that the vehicle was connected to a room at the hotel and that the occupants had gotten to the hotel about one hour after the Honda had been reported stolen. The name on the hotel registry was Joe Rivera, a name the task force knew from previous investigations. When Azuelo and Officer Dan Spencer knocked on the hotel room door, the person inside blocked the door and refused to come out. Officers from the Marana Police Department were called in. A woman eventually answered the door and she was pulled aside and interviewed. Spencer continued to negotiate with Rivera, who was talking to him but had a gun pointed inside his mouth. Spencer was able to get Rivera to trade three bullets for a bottle of water. The Pima Regional SWAT Team was called in and a search warrant was obtained. Negotiations continued for about two hours until Rivera surrendered. Methamphetamine was found inside the room as well as two fast food receipts. Videotapes from the receipts identified Rivera as driving the car before it had even been reported stolen. At one point Rivera pointed a gun to the roof and fired two shots when he became angry with the woman who was a passenger. Rivera was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on charges of burglary, auto theft, criminal damage and discharging a firearm in city limits.
May 2, 2006
Detective Richard Rosler and Officer Dan Spencer were on patrol in the Avra Valley area when they noticed a Ford E-350 cargo van being driven in a remote desert area near Silverbell Mine. The van was registered out of Tempe, but had not been reported stolen. They followed the van until it committed a traffic violation and pulled over the driver. Spencer noticed that the ignition was hanging out of the steering column and that it would not turn off. Eleven illegal aliens were found inside. The driver of the van was contacted in Scottsdale and when asked where his van was, he said it was parked at his business. When told by the officers that it was actually in Tucson and had been full of illegal immigrants, the owner said it was the third time one of his vehicles had been stolen and used to transport illegal immigrants. The van was then returned to the grateful owner.
