Tempe Police Department

Aaron Smith, Ex-Tempe Cop, Gets 90 Days in Jail for Being a Petty Thief

Aaron Smith, the former Tempe patrol officer who decided to steal from the most cop-filled building in the City of Tempe -- the police department -- was sentenced today to 90 days in jail.Smith lost his job, and now has a criminal record and has to serve jail time because he just needed some cash, b ... More >>

Aaron Smith, Ex-Tempe Cop, Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Police Department

Aaron Smith, a former Tempe patrol officer who decided to steal from a building full of cops -- the police department -- has pleaded guilty to a theft charge.Smith, who was caught taking some cash, bikes, and a GPS unit that didn't even work, told his fellow officers that he was suffering from "extr ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one -- at least that's what we read somewhere -- so it's perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of our biggest stories f ... More >>

Tempe Cop Aaron Smith Arrested, Accused of Stealing From Police Department

Aaron Smith, a patrol officer with the Tempe Police Department for more than seven years, was arrested this weekend for allegedly stealing some of the department's stuff.Smith, who told his (now former) fellow officers that he was suffering from "extreme financial hardship," is accused of taking som ... More >>

Tempe Joins the Naked-Man-on-Bath-Salts Train Thanks to Sean-Paul Branscome

If you haven't heard a story recently about a naked person high on the chemicals known as "bath salts," you have not been paying attention.For example, "Bath Salt Apocalypse: Naked Georgia Man Rambles About Biggie And Tupac Before Threatening To Eat Cop."Thanks to 23-year-old Sean-Paul Branscome, th ... More >>

Paul Babeu or Tempe Police: Whose Story Are You Buyin'?

It seems Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's not ready to give up on his theories for what happened to the five people killed in the Vekol Valley over the weekend, as the Tempe Police Department has declared it as a murder/suicide.Babeu initially declared that "[a]ll information is pointing that this ... More >>

Last Night's Town Hall Meeting on Clubhouse Music Venue Shooting Filled With Anger, Accusations, and Rhetoric

​Tempers flared and angry words filled the air at last night's town hall discussion regarding the Clubhouse Music Venue and the recent gang-related shooting that look place in its parking lot.Angry accusations and livid tirades filled the air inside a packed meeting room at the Tempe History Museu ... More >>

Mobb Deep and Dean's List Shows at Clubhouse Music Venue Canceled in Wake of Recent Shooting

​The gang-related shooting outside of the Clubhouse in Tempe last Friday continues to make waves in the local music scene as venue management has announced the cancellations of this weekend's performances by NYC hip-hop duo Mobb Deep and Boston rap trio The Dean's List.California-based hip-hop pro ... More >>

Shooting at Nipsey Hussle Concert in Tempe Last Night Injures 13 People. Suspects Still at Large

​ Violence and panic erupted outside of the Clubhouse Music Venue in Tempe last night as a fight between concertgoers at the Nipsey Hussle show escalated into a shooting that wounded 13 people. According to multiple messages on Twitter and statements from Tempe Police Department officials to the ... More >>

Jasen Achondo, Tempe Dad Who Left 11-Month-Old in Running Bathtub, Gets Probation, Jail Time

​A Tempe man who left his 11-month-old son in a running bathtub last year was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning where he was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years probation.Jason Achondo, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse in November.Achondo and his baby-mama, 23 ... More >>

Former County Constable Jonathan Levenson Busted in Anti-Semitic Scam to Torch Home For Insurance Payout

Tempe Police DepartmentJonathan Levenson​A former Maricopa County constable was arrested over the weekend after police say he conspired to burn his house down so he could collect an insurance payout.According to the Tempe Police Department, former Kyrene Justice Court Constable Jonathan Harold Irw ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Tempe Couple's 9 a.m. Nap Nearly Leads to Drowning Death of 11-Month-Old Boy

Tempe Police DepartmentSummer Dawn Angelly (left) and Jasen Anchondo (right)​We can think of a lot of instances when it's probably not the most ideal time to take a nap -- topping the list, however, would definitely be shortly after putting an 11-month-old baby in a running bathtub, which is exact ... More >>

Tempe Stabbing Victim Identified, Suspect Gordon Benson Still Loose

Tempe Police DepartmentPolice say Gordon Benson stabbed a Tempe man Saturday morning. He's still on the loose.​The victim of a fatal stabbing over the weekend in Tempe has been identified, and the man who police say stabbed him remains on the loose.Tempe police have identified the victim as 47-yea ... More >>

May 16 In Blogs: King of Tranny, Jonathan Richman, Chaka Chaka, and Rick Welts

​​​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:

Tempe Tavern on Apache & McClintock Now Open

​Back in March, we blogged about the imminent arrival of Tempe Tavern on Apache and McClintock, the new bar set to take up residence in the historic White Dairy Barn building, built in 1918.The bar opened up last weekend, with plenty of nods to classic Phoenix/Tempe bars housed within its notable ... More >>

Ex-Attorney Convicted of Fatally Stabbing ASU Student Turns Self in After Skipping Court Appearance

Tempe Police DepartmentDaniel Gukeisen​A verdict was returned Friday in the case of 39-year-old Daniel Gukeisen, a Tempe attorney accused of fatally stabbing a 22-year-old Arizona State University student in 2008. Gukeisen, however, didn't bother to show up.The proceedings went on without him, tho ... More >>

Tempe Man Missing Since Saturday

Tempe Police DepartmentWillie Jigba was last seen leaving a party in Tempe early Saturday morning.​The Tempe Police Department is asking the public's help in tracking down a man missing since Saturday.Willie Jigba, 24, was last seen at a party in the 600 block of East Weber Drive in Tempe. Jigba l ... More >>

Second Sketch of Kyleigh Sousa Suspect Actually Looks Like Human Being -- But it Was Never Released to the Public

KPHOTo the left is the sketch Tempe Police asked KPHO to not release to the public. In the middle is the suspect in the Kyleigh Sousa murder case, Joseluis Marquez, and to the right is the original sketch distributed by police.​An arrest has been made in the murder of 21-year-old Arizona State Uni ... More >>

Jeff Ahlers Shooting: Gun Found in Drained Tempe Canal Less Than a Mile Upstream From Where Body Was Discovered

Jeff Ahlers was found shot to death in a Tempe canal in June. Last week, a gun possibly used in his death was found less than a mile from where his body was discovered. ​Last month, following the New Times article linked here, the Tempe Police Department reportedly had a canal -- in which the body ... More >>

UPDATED: Bald White Guy Offers 10-Year-Old Candy to Get in His Truck -- Pervs Need to Get a Little More Creative

www.xatigirl.com​"There's candy in the van, little girl...muahahahaha."Could a pervert's (ahem) pickup line be any more cliche?That age-old ploy was basically what a guy in Tempe reportedly used to try and lure a 10-year-old girl into his truck this morning.

Another Tempe Girl Lies About Attempted Abduction. WTF?

www.torontosportsmedia.com​Call off the dogs -- for the second time in less than a month, a Tempe girl's claim that a man tried to abduct her turned out to be BS.Since our earlier post about a bald white guy trying to lure a 10-year-old girl into his truck by offering her candy, the Tempe Police D ... More >>

Zachary Marco Murder: Two Suspects Held on $1 Million Bail. Cops Fear for Third Suspect's Safety

Louis Harper, the alleged trigger man in the Zachary Marco murder.​Unless the two men police believe murdered 21-year-old Arizona State University student Zachary Marco can come up with a million bucks apiece they're not goin' anywhere for a while.Bail was set at $1 million each for Louis Eu ... More >>

Jeff Ahlers Shooting: Medical Examiner's Report "Pending" -- Five Months Later

Jeff Ahlers​We've been following the shooting death of 47-year-old Jeff Ahlers, of Tempe, fairly closely, and five months after he was shot, we still have no answer as to what happened.Ahlers was first reported missing on June 1, and was found shot to death in a canal a few days later.By all accou ... More >>

Tempe Police Release Information on Suspects in Murder of ASU Student

Zachary Marco​The Tempe Police Department today -- in the wake of criticism over how it's handling several unsolved murder cases -- released details about the suspects in the murder of a 21-year-old Arizona State University student.Zachary Marco was shot near University Drive ... More >>

Tempe Transients Arrested for September Murder; Timing Couldn't be Better for Tempe P.D.

Tempe Police DepartmentRonald Alewine​Under heavy criticism over several unsolved murders, the Tempe Police Department arrested two people -- including a 14-year-old boy -- in connection with the September stabbing death of a homeless man.Police arrested Ronald Therman-Lamar Alewine, 23, and Javon ... More >>

Father of Latest Murdered ASU Student Offers Killer's Accomplice Deal

KPHOZachary Marco​No suspects are in custody for the murder of the latest Arizona State University student killed in Tempe and the father of the victim appeared on KPHO last night to offer a deal to the accomplice of the man who murdered his son.In an almost-as-bad-ass-as-Mel-Gibson-in-Ransom mome ... More >>

Tempe Sees Huge Spike in Murder for 2010

​Following the second highly publicized, unsolved murder of an Arizona State University student in six months, the Tempe Police Department has come under fire for its handling of violent crimes. The department responded to media inquiries about crime statistics by issuing a press release yeste ... More >>

Suspicious Backpacks and Other Highlights From the First Night at Arizona Fall Frenzy

Benjamin LeathermanThe beer area at Arizona Fall Frenzy was just as busy as last year, despite a major disruption at the front gate.​They weren't kidding about the "frenzy" part. An abandoned backpack and a few other suspicious packages left near the front gate of Tempe Beach Park created a whir ... More >>

Driver in Fatal Accident That Killed Silver Medallion's Carnegie Identified, Charged

​The identity of the teenager drive allegedly responsible for the fatal vehicle accident that claimed the life of Arizona-born hip-hop star Carnegie (a.k.a. Abay Lattin) has surfaced in the local media. According a story posted on KPHO's website, the 17-year-old driver is identified as Kathry ... More >>

Tempe Police Identify Body of 4-Year-Old Murdered in 1970

Tempe Police DepartmentSurette Clark was murdered by her step-father in 1970​The Tempe Police Department has identified the body of a girl who was murdered 40 years ago.Tempe police say the victim, Surette Clark, was murdered by her step-father, Wayne Clifford Roberts, in November of 1970. Clark w ... More >>

New Clue in Case of ASU Student Killed During Robbery Attempt

Kyleigh Sousa​There's a new clue in the death of Kyleigh Sousa, the ASU student who was killed during a robbery-gone-wrong this past May, and the Tempe Police Department needs the public's help to answer a few questions those clues have raised.Tempe police Sergeant Steve Carbajal tells New Times a ... More >>

Club Red Moshers Who Had Run-In With Tempe Cops May Go To Court

​An altercation involving moshers, bouncers, and the Tempe Police Department may be headed to court.If you follow the local metal scene, you may have heard about an incident at Tempe's Club Red involving Mesa metal act Rising Pain, who were opening for Dutch death-metal outfit Pestilence. Afte ... More >>

Tempe Police Release Sketch of Suspect in Death of ASU Student

Kyleigh Sousa​The Tempe Police Department today released a sketch of the man they believe is responsible for the death of a 21-year-old ASU student about two weeks ago.Tempe police Sergeant Steve Carbajal tells New Times the department's received more than 100 tips from the public since Kyleigh So ... More >>

Missing Tempe Man Found Dead in Canal

Tempe Police Department Police found what they believe is the body of Jeff Ahlers in a canal near his home.​Tempe police believe they have found the body of a man who went missing earlier this week after going for a walk on a canal path near his Tempe. According to the Tempe Police Departm ... More >>

Tempe Man Goes Missing After Walk Along Canal Path

Tempe Police DepartmentJeff Ahlers has not been seen since going for a walk around 6 a.m. yesterday.​Tempe police are asking the public's help in tracking down a 47-year-old man who was last seen yesterday morning before going for a walk on a canal path in Tempe.Jeff Allen Ahlers, 47, of Tempe, wa ... More >>

Parents of ASU Student Killed in Robbery Attempt Pleads for Suspect to Turn Himself in

Tempe Police DepartmentKyleigh Ann Sousa​The parents of Kyleigh Ann Sousa, the 21-year-old Arizona State University student who was killed in a robbery attempt on Wednesday, made a public plea to the suspect or suspects in the case to surrender to police.At a press conference yesterday, Karen Mont ... More >>

Tempe Police Looking for ASU Student Missing for Nearly a Week

www.facebook.comDaniel Heidinger​Tempe police are looking for a 22-year-old Arizona State University student who has been missing since boarding a westbound light rail train last week.Daniel Heidinger, an economics student at ASU, was reported missing after leaving his home near Mill Avenue in Tem ... More >>

Hot Links: Tax Evasion, Hooters Fall, and a Possible Chop Shop

​An East Valley real estate broker has been indicted for tax evasion. Sue Janice Taylor, who has residences in several Arizona cities, was charged with four counts of tax evasion for not reporting more than a million dollars in income from her real estate business, National Landbank. Taylor is sch ... More >>

Anti-Photo Enforcement Group Says Easter Bunny Stunt a Sign of Things to Come

​ Somehow, between hiding Easter eggs and filling baskets with candy, the Easter Bunny found time to give a photo-enforcement camera in Tempe an oval-shaped "up yours!" And an anti-speed-camera group predicts such civil disobedience will happen "more and more" until the cameras ... More >>

Tempe Officials to Conduct Rail Fare Enforcement Checks at Light Rail Stops

www.about.com​The free ride may be coming to an end for light rail freeloaders in Tempe -- the Tempe Police Department is planning "focused fare enforcement stops" at light rail stops to catch people getting a free ride. Tempe police say they are putting an end to the "education period" for ... More >>

Baby Gabriel Update: Hopeful Adoptive Mother, Tammi Smith, Arrested

Tammi Smith during an appearance on The Today Show​Tempe police arrested the woman who had hoped to adopt Gabriel Johnson before the 8-month-old went missing more than six weeks ago.Tammi Smith, 37, was labeled a person of interest by the Tempe Police Department in mid-January after police f ... More >>

Baby Gabriel Mom Pleads Not Guilty in Disappearance; Are Murder Charges on the Horizon?

Eight-month old Gabriel Johnson was last seen alive in San Antonio, Texas​Elizabeth Johnson, the mother of the missing eight-month old baby, Gabriel Johnson, appeared before a Maricopa County Superior Court judge this morning, via-video feed from the Maricopa County Jail and pleaded not gui ... More >>

More Than 50 Cited At A Tempe Bar For Underage Drinking

funk.co.uk​So 52 underage people walk into a bar...and they all got arrested.The Tempe Police Department, in response to a complaint from the Department of Liquor Licensing and Control, made 52 arrests at a single bar in Tempe Saturday night.That many minors in one place would even put Michael Jac ... More >>

Tempe Changes Rules on Towing to Prevent Companies From Scamming Drivers

Downtown Tempe will no longer be the feeding ground of disreputable towing companies, thanks to changes by the city council. Visitors to the urban hotspot around Mill Avenue fell victim for years to highly aggressive towing companies that hooked vehicles up within minutes of an errant par ... More >>

Spiked

Mountains "AGE," lawyers have hissy fits, and Arpaio asks you to draw

The Great Zia Robbery

DEATH IN THE DESERT

IN HER SEARCH FOR ANSWERS, KIMBERLY NILSON DABBLED IN MYSTICISM AND POSSIBLY PEYOTE. NOW, EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE TRIGGERED NATIONAL HEADLINES, EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE ASU STUDENT'S QUEST INTO LIFE'S MYSTERIES MAY HAVE LED TO HER OWN DEATH.

DEAD & HARRIED

JOSH BURNER BOUGHT A HOME WHERE A WOMAN HAD DIED. NOW SHE'S BACK, AND SHE CLAIMS SHE WAS MURDERED.