In his cruel and unusual 1994 book Crime and the Sacking of America: The Roots of Chaos, Maricopa County Attorney hopeful Andrew Peyton Thomas wrote this: “By publicly incarcerating drug dealers and other criminals, displaying them before their neighbors in large, open-air holding pens with their names and crimes prominently…
How often a car is stolen in Arizona: Every nine minutes, 16 seconds Value of cars stolen in 2002: $377.3 million Number stolen in 2002: 57,668 Number of vehicles stolen in 1993: 33,006 Number stolen in Maricopa County in 2002: 44,180 Number stolen in Greenlee County in 2002: 1 Number…
Editor’s note: John Dougherty’s August 5 column “Dog Day Afternoon” generated more than 1,000 letters and telephone calls from outraged readers. They were mostly from Maricopa County residents, but many came from other locales across the country. Printed here are a representative selection of this outpouring. As usual, because of…
It sounds too good to be true. Just stick the key in, jiggle it around a little, and presto: Any Chrysler product manufactured between 1992 and 1999 will open and start. At first, it is too good to be true. A Jeep. Then a Concorde. Then a Neon. Then a…
We all know how Joe Arpaio serves up justice to average schmucks. He proudly shows no mercy. He subjects them to the vilest of conditions. Death and injuries often result. But it’s a different story for the rich and powerful. If you or yours are in a position to help…
After vowing publicly that no piece of art would be cut, Arizona State University Art Museum director Marilyn Zeitlin chose to “eliminate” several pieces originally slated for inclusion in the “Democracy in America” exhibition, which will open as scheduled at the museum on August 31, to coincide with the debate…
SHERIFF WOE He’s not seeking publicity this time: As a resident of Maricopa County, I must applaud you for your outstanding articles on our current sheriff and his department’s tactics (“Dog Day Afternoon,” John Dougherty, August 5). Your articles based on extensive digging into the practices of the sheriff’s office…
On March 24, 1993, Robert Shawn Owens stood before Judge Ronald Reinstein in a downtown Phoenix courtroom. Owens recently had turned 30 at the Arizona State Prison, his residence for the previous six and a half years. In December 1986, another judge had sentenced him to 20 years on theft…
Joseph Stedino, the Cadillac-size Mafioso, shoved wads of cash toward Bobby Raymond, a state legislator who looked like an altar boy holding a collection plate. Stedino bribed the politician to secure off-reservation, goombah-style gambling in Arizona. Public servant Raymond promised action and plenty of it. To establish street cred with…
If hundreds of angry phone calls and e-mails in response to my commentary on a harebrained MCSO raid in Ahwatukee are any indication of the public’s disgust, elderly Joe Arpaio may soon be the ex-sheriff of Maricopa County. Readers are livid over the bungled July 23 raid by Joe’s goons…
Looking like a cross between Jet Li and the Hives’ Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, pimped out like his bandmates in a regal purple tux and a Green Hornet-style black mask, and twisting and shaking as if Benny Hinn had just laid hands on him and filled him with the Spirit, Russell…
WHININGLY CHALLENGED An uplifting tale: Finally, a story about a handicapped person who isn’t a whining pussy (“My Right Foot,” Robert Nelson, July 29). I can’t believe it! Thanks for telling the story of Gordon McGuire, now of Paradise Valley, Arizona. As you so succinctly put it — by backwardly…
A longtime team physician at Arizona State University resigned last week, unhappy after a six-month investigation into complaints about ASU’s Student Health and Wellness Center concluded that most of the charges were without merit. ASU released a sanitized version of the results of the investigation last month to the complainants…
Justin Delfino looked out the window of his Ahwatukee home and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was shortly after noon on July 23 and several men dressed in black jeans and green shirts were getting out of an unmarked white Suburban, casually putting on flak jackets and helmets…
PILL PUSHERS When in Rome . . . : I completely agree with your take on the Ray Lindell case (“Naive Gringo Pill Popped Below Border,” Susy Buchanan, July 22). This guy totally went down to Mexico and didn’t follow the country’s laws, and his family started screaming bloody murder…
So the L-word Mila Kunis and I are kicking it with drinks and smokes in that intimate Seventh Street cabaret Wink’s, enjoying drag diva Barbra Seville’s Early Show-Girlie Show on a recent Sunday eve, when Seville returns to the stage from one of her many costume changes for a little…
Gordon McGuire reaches into the back of his mother’s fridge and pulls out the front part of his right foot. After eight months in formaldehyde, the skin on the body part is ghostly white. The piece of foot is the size and shape of a turkey wing. The skin is…
As you turn down the air conditioning in your dark living room during these brutal summer evenings, think for a moment about Leslie Christiansen, Daniel Purpura and Charles Ward. The latter two needlessly died in Outlaw Joe Arpaio’s Maricopa County jail. Christiansen could soon become the next victim of Arpaio’s…
“It’s going to unravel like a cheap sweater.” That’s how Phoenix attorney Holly Gieszl reacted to word of the arrests in Southern California last week of six key players in the now-infamous “rent-a-patient” scam. First reported by New Times (“Rent A Patient,” April 24, 2003), the scheme included thousands of…
If it seems like the Jettster and I have been playing Mister and Mizz Humptyvision of late, going out a lot in the middle of the week, blame Yahweh, yo. This monsoon season’s playing havoc with our sched. And for whatever reason, for the past week or so, Wednesday’s been…
PERVERTS ” R ” US Let he who is without sin . . . : Thanks so much for your article exposing the vigilante tactics of Perverted-Justice.com ! I used to be a member of its Follow Up Forum and am ashamed to admit I would harass people posted on…
A few steps from the metal turnstile gates that spin you from one country to another, the banter begins. The narrow calle that visitors are funneled into as they make their way into Mexico is lined with farmacias. Men in white coats stand outside and shout over one another to…
