Absconders and armed robbers made this installment of New Times' weekly post featuring scofflaws, including suspects in robberies, homicides and assault cases, sex offenders who've absconded, and even "dead beat" parents who aren't shelling out court-ordered child support.
Suspects featured here are presumed innocent -- until a judge or jury says otherwise.
Check out some of the Valley's Most Wanted:
Gun-Totin' Train Bandits
On June 29, at about 12:55 a.m., two men traveling eastbound on the light rail exited when the train stopped at 3800 East Washington Street in Phoenix.
One of them re-entered the train and the second stood at the train's doorway and pointed a handgun at two male passengers.
The suspect who got back on the train forcefully removed a cell phone from one of the passengers.
He tried to take a second passenger's cell phone, but when that man refused to give it up, the suspect punched him in the face.
Both suspects had buzzed haircuts. One is between 20 and 30 years old, 5-foot-9, weights about 150 pounds and has a tattoo of an "E" on his right forearm, "CHUCKS" on his right arm and a cross on his left shoulder.
The other suspect is between 17 and 20 years old, 5-foot-6, weighs about 120 pounds and spoke with a Spanish accent.
Up Next: Absconded Child Abuser
Fernando Sherman is 41 years old, 6-foot, and weighs about 215 pounds. He is also known as Fernando Vasquez. He is wanted for probation violation on an original charge of child abuse.
Up Next: Sex Offender on the Run
Michael Engler is 50 years old, 5-foot-11, and weighs 180 pounds. He is wanted for probation violation on original charges of failure to register as a sex offender and aggravated DUI.
Up Next: Ski-Masked Suspects' Smash-and-Grab
On July 23, at about 9:30 a.m., three suspects backed their vehicle into a handicapped parking spot in front of SuperPawn, 3460 Grand Avenue in Phoenix. They put on ski masks, exited the vehicle and entered the store. One suspect pointed a gun at the employees and held them at gunpoint while the other two suspects broke the display case glass and removed jewelry which they put into black bags they brought with them. One of the suspects also demanded the necklace that one of the employees was wearing. The suspects left the store with their black bags and fled eastbound in their vehicle, described as a silver or faded gold, late 1990s-early 2000s 4-door Buick.
If you have a tip on any of these cases, you might be able to muscle as much as $1,000 from Silent Witness. Call 480 W-I-T-N-E-S-S (480-948-6377), or toll free at 1-800-343-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip at silentwitness.org.
