Pinal County

Pinal County Democratic Party Calls On Sheriff Paul Babeu to Put Duties As Sheriff Above His Congressional Aspirations

The Pinal County Democrats aren't happy with Sheriff Paul Babeu's latest rhetoric about pushing for a law making it a crime for federal law enforcement officers to enforce President Barack Obama's proposals to reduce gun violence. Yeah, he did say that. Babeu brought it up during an appearance on ... More >>

Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Tosses Armed Militia into the Mix of Poorly Training Border Patrol Agents With Use of Force Issues

A recipe for disaster: U.S Customs and Border Patrol's lax policies over the use of lethal force. Inadequately trained agents sent to patrol rough desert terrain blanketed with fear and tension that's fueled by potential danger. A border-hawk sheriff putting weapons in the hands of unpaid civilia ... More >>

Elias Johnson, former PCSO Spokesman, Accused of Meddling in SWAT Operation (With UPDATE)

Elias Johnson wasn't a sworn officer --- but he apparently played one while off duty. Johnson was a mouthpiece for Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. New Times has learned details about the July incident that led to Johnson's resignation on Friday. Sources tells us that Johnson, who is a former tele ... More >>

ACLU Still Waiting for Pinal County Jail to Get It Together on Immigrant Detention

It's been a year since the American Civil Liberties Union demanded immigration officials fix the conditions in which immigrants are detained at the Pinal County Jail, and if you ask the ACLU, it's no better today.The ACLU's now asking that the Department of Homeland Security officials remove the imm ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, May 31

Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Called Out for Mismanagement, Overspending by Chairman of Pinal County Board of Supervisors

Pete Rios, chairman of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, voiced his frustration with the county's embattled sheriff in a recent letter published in local newspapers. It addresses Babeu's repeated claims -- including a post on his website in March -- that he has balanced his budget despite bei ... More >>

Paul Babeu Turns Distortion of Truth Into an Art Form

Pinal County Sheriff's Office Would Like Its Automatic Rifle, Glock Pistol, and Taser Back

A sergeant with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office does not have his automatic rifle, pistol, or Taser after the weapons were stolen out of his vehicle yesterday morning.The Colt M-16A1 automatic rifle, Taser X-26 and its loaded cartridge, as well as Glock 27 pistol with a magazine were stolen out of ... More >>

Paul Babeu's Lieutenants Display Poor Judgement -- Apparently a Disease in His Department -- and Get Nominated, Selected for Prestigious FBI Training Program

Pinal County Lieutenant Tamatha Villar was busted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety -- not once or twice, but three times -- for going at least 94 miles per hour in her county-issued car.   She wasn't responding to emergency traffic. On one of those occasions, her 10-year-old son was ... More >>

Paul Babeu Touts Gay Rights While LGBT Inmates in His Jail Suffer

Best Reader Caption For Paul Babeu's Self-Portrait?

Yesterday, we asked readers to write the caption for the above photo, a self-portrait of Pinal County Sheriff' Paul "studboi1" Babeu.The photo came out after New Times broke the story of Babeu's ex-boyfriend claiming he was threatened with deportation if he disclosed the details of their relationshi ... More >>

Pinal County Attorney Jim Walsh Referring Abuse-of-Power Allegations Against Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu to Public Integrity Task Force

It looks like Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu -- along with allegations that he abused his power -- is headed for the PITs, a state Public Integrity Task Force, that is. Read all about those allegations in New Times' feature story. New Times has learned that Pinal County Attorney Jim Walsh is refe ... More >>

Prison Legal News Rejected by Mistake, Pinal County Sheriff's Office Says; "They Need to Settle" Federal Complaint, Says Mag's Editor

​ Magazines and paperbacks sent to the Pinal County Jail were rejected by mistake, a spokesman Sheriff Paul Babeu said today in response to news of a federal lawsuit.As we reported earlier today, the national Prison Legal News launched a federal complaint against Babeu and Pinal County this we ... More >>

Pinal County Men Steal Two Tons of Hay. The Payoff: About $500

PCSO"Wedo"​Two Pinal County men were arrested last week for stealing two tons of hay from a dairy just south of highway 287.The hay, the victim of the theft told police later, has a street value of roughly 500 bucks.Pinal County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle with a gia ... More >>

Racist "Juggalo" Tim Lowe Busted for Molesting 16-Year-Old Special Needs Girl

Tim Lowe's Facebook pageTim Lowe in full "juggalo" regalia.​A racist, Arizona City "juggalo" -- who claims to be studying for a Ph.D in "scratching balls" -- was arrested yesterday after admitting to molesting a 16-year-old special needs girl.Timothy Lowe, 22, was booked into Pinal County Jail on ... More >>

San Tan Woman Arrested in Connection to Husband's Oklahoma Murder

Pinal County Sheriff's DepartmentRaelynne Simonin​San Tan resident Raelynne Simonin called Pinal County sheriff's deputies last week claiming to be a witness to her husband's murder.Turns out, police think she had something to do with it.Simonin was arrested this morning for accessory to murder af ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, July 7, 2011

Woman Killed by Fall From Moving Van After Drinking With Friends; Husband to Be Charged With Impaired Driving

PCSOYep -- that's a beer can on the console of the van from which Stephanie Holliday fell.​A Pinal County woman is dead after falling from a moving car Wednesday night. Police suspect she was drunk, and her husband will likely be charged with impaired driving.About 9 p.m. Wednesday, 57-year-old To ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Ordered to Turn Over Unredacted Copy of PCSO Report

What else is in the PCSO's report on the investigation into Joe Arpaio's office? We might find out soon.​America's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff," has been ordered to turn over an unredacted copy of the damning report on the Pinal County Sheriff's Office's investigation into his office to a ju ... More >>

Louie Puroll of Pinal County Not Back In Uniform Despite Alleged Recent Sighting

Louie Puroll, the former Pinal County sheriff's deputy whose tale about getting shot by illegal alien dope smugglers in the desert near Interstate 8 came under fire last year, is not, repeat not, back on the job. A colleague pointed out a comment attached on-line to one of his stories whic ... More >>

Family Court Commissioner Theresa Ratliff Arrested for Assaulting Husband

Pinal County Sheriff's OfficeTheresa Ratliff​A Pinal County woman was arrested last week on charges that she assaulted her husband as the two were driving near Casa Grande -- which wouldn't be much of a news story if the woman arrested wasn't Pinal County Family Court Commissioner Theresa Ratliff. ... More >>

Pinal County Jail Inmate Assaults Detention Officer to Avoid Release; Fears Mexican "Hit" Squad

PCSOAlexandro Guerrero​On Sunday, April 17, 26-year-old Alexandro Guerrero was scheduled to be released from a Pinal County jail where he'd been serving time for a failure to comply warrant out of Yuma. But Guerrero wasn't ready to leave, so he punched a detention officer in the face and attacked ... More >>

Potato Chip Meth Peddler Gets Probation After Being Caught With Nearly $10K Worth of Tweaker Fuel

www.digitalradiocentral.com​A Pinal County Superior Court judge this morning slapped the wrist of a Tucson woman convicted of peddling nearly $10,000 worth of crystal meth -- she was sentenced to a mere 18 months probation.Perhaps stupidity creativity points were awarded to 27-year-old Vanes ... More >>

Pinal County Assessor Lewis Paul Larkin Nabbed for Suspected DUI Following Citizen's Complaint; Had County Car Taken Away in 2009

L. Paul Larkin, Pinal County Assessor​ Lewis Paul Larkin, the elected county assessor from Pinal County, was arrested on suspicion of DUI last night following a citizen's complaint to a county Web site. Here's what the complaint said: The Pinal County Assessor frequents the Kokopelli Mo ... More >>

Pinal County Perv Tells Cops He Can't Stop Molesting Little Girls

PCSOSalvador Valentin can't stop molesting little girls.​A Pinal County pervert admitted to police that he can't stop molesting little girls and he needs to go to jail -- that was only after police suspected him of molesting a 9-year-old family friend.The Pinal County Sheriff's Office got informat ... More >>

Sheriff Paul Babeu Named Sheriff of the Year by National Sheriff's Association

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu​Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's crusade to become the face of the fight against illegal immigration has paid off -- the National Sheriff's Association announced yesterday that he's been named the 2011 Sheriff of the Year.The NSA cites Babeu's strong stance against ... More >>

Dogs Bite Kid, Neighbors Beat Dogs -- With Baseball Bats

PCSOThese pooches are currently in doggy jail after attacking a 10-year-old Arizona City boy yesterday.​A 10-year-old Arizona City boy was medevaced to a Phoenix hospital yesterday after three dogs attacked him as he and a group of kids got off a school bus.About 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the victim an ... More >>

Deputies to Coolidge DUI Suspect: "Is there Anyone Else in the Car." Suspect to Deputies: "No, Just My Rifle"

Ernie Beguin -- and his rifle -- had a wild ride through a Pinal County trailer park on Sunday.​A drunk Coolidge man (and apparently his rifle, too) had a wild ride through a Pinal County trailer park Sunday night, and he had a whole lot to say to the sheriff's deputies who arrested him, inc ... More >>

Daniel Perez Blunder: MCSO Off Hook for Accidental Inmate Release -- For Now. Still Unclear Who Dropped Ball

This is Daniel Perez. He tried to kill a police officer. If you've seen him, call the cops.​We've spent the better part of today -- and last night -- trying to figure out who's responsible for the accidental release of a would-be cop-killer freed on $320 bond by a Pinal County justice of the ... More >>

Army Vs. Navy: Fight Between Servicemen Over Which Military Branch is "Better" Leads to Shooting

  Image: Pinal County Sheriff's Office A fight in Florence over which branch of service was better, the Army or Navy, ended with the sailor being shot through the foot.​Which is better, the Army or Navy? Two Florence men argued bitterly over the question on Christmas Day, leading to ... More >>

Dan Lovelace, Fired Chandler Cop, Investigated for Abusing Jail Inmate in New Gig With Pinal County Sheriff's Office

www.policecrimes.com Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's BFF, Dan Lovelace.​We figured it might be a matter of time before we'd  hear more about fired Chandler police officer Dan Lovelace after he was hired by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu to be one of the PCSO's finest. &nb ... More >>

Suspected Meth Dealer Accidentally Sets Trailer on Fire as SWAT Team Serves Search Warrant. Cause of Blaze: Meth, Of Course

Pinal County Sheriff's OfficeMichael Thornborrow's initial reaction to seeing the SWAT Team surround his house was to run inside and smoke some meth.​When 47-year-old Michael Thornborrow watched from his backyard as the SWAT team from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office surrounded his trailer yester ... More >>

Sheriff Paul Babeu Runs Most "Transparent" Cop Shop Around--No Fooling

As readers may know, we have been looking hard into the curious desert shooting case involving Pinal County sheriff's deputy Louie Puroll, the fella in the photo. ​We published our original story, "Pinalcchio" a few months ago about the internationally publicized incident--here it is ... More >>

Suspected Pinal County Church Shooter Found Dead in Desert

Dominic Donatella​The man who police say shot his ex-wife in a church parking lot on Tuesday was found dead in the desert from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.We hate to say it, but we kinda had a feeling this was how this story would end.The Pinal County Sheriff's Office found the body o ... More >>

U.S. Homeland Security Debunks Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's Claim of Cartel "Assassins" Runing Amok

We (and everyone else) got a news release earlier today from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, whose boss, Paul Babeu (in the photo), is the man of the moment in the increasingly ugly debate over what to do with illegal immigrants.   ​The dramatic release claimed that, back in May,  ... More >>

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Goes on the Defensive in a Desperate Attempt to Save His and Deputy Louie Puroll's Reputations

Sheriff Paul Babeu Quick to Point Out Gun Shot Wound on Kidnapping Victim Not Self-Inflicted; We've Heard That Before

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu​We were hit with a case of deja vu this morning when we read a press release from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office about a pair of illegal immigrants who were kidnapped and left in the desert, with one of the victims having been shot.The story itself isn't what jar ... More >>

Oct. 6 In Blogs: Trick-Or-Treaters, The Gay Blades, Liverwurst, and Reality Porn

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, July 22, 2010

UPDATE: Law Enforcement Source Says Evidence Doesn't Support Account by Wounded Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy

Mum has been the operative word in recent days about the April 30 desert incident involving Pinal County sheriff's Deputy Louie Puroll.   ​  Readers will remember this one: Sheriff Paul Babeu (in the photo) told the world that Puroll claimed to have been grazed by a bullet fi ... More >>

Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Shooting Last Friday Has Some Local Cops Scratching Their Heads

Far as we know, Pinal County sheriff's Deputy Louie Puroll deserves all the praise in the world for fighting off five suspected drug smugglers in a remote desert area last week and surviving with just a minor wound from an AK-47 type weapon.   ​But we've spoken with about a dozen current ... More >>

February 9 In Blogs: Arctic Monkeys, Cheese Curds, and the MCSO

​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Joe Arpaio's Secret Immigration File, and David Hendershott's Secret AOL Account. Plus, H ... More >>

Swine Flu Arizona: Maricopa has 11 Confirmed Cases and 100 Suspected; Schools to Remain Open

Image: Wikimedia CommonsThe state Department of Health Services released a slew of news releases this evening about swine flu. Here are the highlights:*Maricopa County -- Eleven new cases, bringing the total to 20. One hundred more suspected swine flu samples have been sent to the Centers for ... More >>

Sheriff Paul Babeu Ends Pinal County's Contract with Redflex

There's a new sheriff in Pinal County, and he's ridin' Redflex out on a hot rail... CameraFraud.com's reporting that Pinal County's newly elected Sheriff Paul Babeu has ended Pinal's photo enforcement contract with Redflex, the Australian firm responsible for so many of those mechanical Orwellian ... More >>

Phooson: We're Here

So we're on the ground here at Phooson 2008. And, no, we're not at the Pinal County Fairgrounds, where last year's event was held.Though the, ahem, extremely lo-fi Phooson website hasn't been updated in a year, the show is at Cricket Wireless Pavilion, which, semi-ironically, has no reliable wir ... More >>

Hot Links: The State of the State is Broke

Libertarian Drew Carey & Reason.tv take on Pinal Co.'s retarded dancing ban.

Big Bad Developer

George Johnson is quickly becoming the most notorious developer in Arizona

MOOSE NO LONGER LOOSEYEAR-OLD EVIDENCE LEADS TO STIFFER CHARGE IN CASE OF SLAIN GOLD MINER

DOWN THE DRAIN ARE WE HAVING A CRISIS YET?