Free Republic

PHOENIX — Federal authorities say an immigrant was out on bond and awaiting deportation hearings when he killed a Phoenix-area convenience store clerk over a pack of cigarettes. Apolinar Altamirano, 29, pleaded guilty in 2012 to a burglary charge but did not serve time in prison. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement took Altamirano into custody on Jan. 3, 2013, after learning of his conviction in Maricopa County in Arizona. But after reviewing his case, ICE found he was eligible for bond, a spokeswoman said in a statement issued Monday.

For the third day in a row, detectives combed through mounds of trash and other items at the Phoenix home of the canal murders suspect Bryan Patrick Miller. Because of the hoarding like conditions, that process will take several more days. And as all this police work continues we're learning more about Miller's violent past and several run-in's with the police. Miller was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murder of two women in Phoenix in the early 90's. Court documents reveal details about two other stabbing incidents involving weapon taking place before and after those canal murders....

PHOENIX -- A woman died hours after giving birth to quadruplets at a Phoenix hospital, a close friend of the family said Saturday. Erica Morales, 36, never got to hold her newborns before she passed away early Friday morning after a C-section surgery at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Nicole Todman said. "They were transporting her from the surgery to whatever room, and she was still unconscious at that point. So, no, she never got to see them," Todman said. Morales was about seven months into her pregnancy when she delivered three girls and one boy Thursday, according to Todman....

During a speech on the middle class and housing at a Phoenix, Arizona high school, President Obama was heckled by a member of the audience. (VIDEO: Christie Shouts Down Heckler: ‘Sit Down and Shut Up!’) Halfway through Obama’s speech at Central High School, considered part of a pre-State of the Union tour to sell his policies, the heckler began yelling. “Is this about housing?” Obama asked, before the shouting stops. WATCH: (starting at 58:21) It’s difficult to make out what the heckler was yelling about in the official White House video, but local media indicate that she was shouting something...

In a stunningly dishonest, conspiracy-laden, and anti-Semitic article, the International Business Times accused Israel and the “Jewish people” for the horrific terrorist attack carried out in Paris yesterday. Anyone with a basic grasp of the most simple of facts is aware that the attack was carried out by Islamic extremists who were upset over Charlie Hebdo’s drawings of Muhammad. The IBT threw logic and common sense to the wind and blamed Israel in an article titled, “Charlie Hebdo Attack and Mossad Link: Is Israel Venting Its Fury For France’s Recognition of Palestine State?” The first sentence in the article says...

Animal cruelty charges against the son and daughter-in-law of U.S. Senator Jeff Flake and two others will be dismissed after new information came to light about the deaths of 21 dogs at a suburban Phoenix kennel in June, prosecutors said on Monday. Authorities said the dogs died from overheating and suffocation caused by sweltering conditions in a cramped room of the pet boarding facility while the owners were away in Florida, leaving the animals in the care of Austin and Logan Flake. However, new evidence brought to prosecutors' attention by defense lawyers after the case was presented to a grand...

Elusive Animal Choked by Civilization Leaves Hood, Roams Phoenix Suburb

McDonald’s and its franchisees illegally retaliated against employees for participating in union-related activities, the National Labor Relations Board’s top lawyer alleged Friday in a case with sweeping industry implications. NLRB general counsel Richard Griffin announced Friday he will issue 13 complaints involving 78 charges against franchises and McDonald’s USA, LLC. Though many of these alleged labor violations were committed by independent franchise owners, Griffin ruled earlier this year that McDonald’s can be held liable for those actions as a so-called joint employer, leaving the corporatrion — and potentially other franchisors — exposed to such claims. McDonald’s said the decision will...

Earlier this week, 38-year old Brenda Begay was arrested for trying to kill her two children, a girl age 12 and a 13-year old boy. The girl awoke from a deep sleep to her mother stabbing her. After that attack, the mother went into her son’s room and stabbed him. Begay has had a history of child abuse and the children suffered wounds to their chest and wrists in this attack. Begay said she believed it was time for her children to go to heaven, so she decided to kill them. She is believed to be mentally disturbed and friends...

Full title: Judicial Watch Obtains Fast and Furious Crime Scene Photos from Phoenix 2013 Gang-Style Assault with Rifle Supplied by Obama Justice Department Photos include close-up shots of Fast and Furious AK-47 rifle, blood-stained apartment, victim with massive head wound (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it has obtained graphic crime scene photos taken at the site of a 2013 gang-style assault on a Phoenix, AZ, apartment building, including a close-up photo revealing the serial number of the AK-47 rifle used by the assailants. As a result of Judicial Watch’s October 2, 2014, public records lawsuit, the weapon...

Flight 623, bound for Phoenix, had just taken off from San Francisco when an unidentified woman went into labor.

A Phoenix police officer shot to death an unarmed black man during a struggle and authorities said the officer believed the individual had a gun, in the latest fatal incident amid national turmoil over the policing of black communities. The Phoenix Police Department said Rumain Brisbon, 34, was sitting in a black Cadillac SUV outside a convenience store on Tuesday evening, and that two witnesses told the officer the occupants of the vehicle were selling drugs. With police forces across the country under increased scrutiny over killings of unarmed black men, Phoenix police said in a statement that its officer...

The head of the troubled Phoenix veterans’ hospital was fired Monday as the Veterans Affairs Department continued its crackdown on wrongdoing in the wake of a nationwide scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking medical care and falsified records covering up the delays. Sharon Helman, director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, was ousted nearly seven months after she and two high-ranking officials were placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into allegations that 40 veterans died while awaiting treatment at the hospital. Helman had led the giant Phoenix facility, which treats more than 80,000 veterans a year,...

A few months ago, Dr. Steinmetz decided to make a political statement by carrying a slung AR15 type rifle at the Phoenix Airport.  Enforcers at the Airport decided that they would punish his statement.  Because of surveillance video, it became clear that Dr. Steinmetz had not broken any law.   Instead, it was likely that the police had broken the law with false arrest. This did not put Dr. Steinmetz in the clear.  Prosecutors have extremely strong immunity.   They can make your life miserable for months and years, and not face any consequences, especially if they have the backing of...

This is an interesting case.   Jeremy Sweet is not a rookie.   He is 51 years old, close to retirement.  He has been working at the Phoenix Police Department since July of 2007.  He was transporting prisoners at the time of the incident, driving an unmarked police vehicle.    Not only are the prisoners that he was transporting willing to testify to his actions, but at least one bystander called 911.  There may be surveillance video as well.   From azfamily.com: "He did not get on his police radio," Crump continued. "He did not ask for assistance. He did not document this...

Riot attempt fails in Phoenix.      You can't make stuff like this up! It must have been the perfect storm in the minds of those planning to incite a riot in Phoenix last night. You had Zombies (!) from the 6th Annual Phoenix Zombie March and nearby a huge crowd of rowdy revelers at a heavy metal band concert. Add to the potentially volatile brew the key ingredient of some obscene police hating community organizers then mix and stir . To get a sense of what fine upstanding people the organizers are take a look at this vulgar ad they...

PHOENIX - Health officials are investigating whether a potent virus that has infected hundreds of children nationwide killed a six-year-old boy in Arizona, officials said on Wednesday, adding that it would take more than a week to get an answer. Officials said the tests are being conducted on the first-grader from Vistancia Elementary School in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria, to determine his cause of death and if he had been infected with the Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) when he died. "It's still too early to tell," said Jeanene Fowler, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. "There...

The Phoenix area is recovering from record-setting rainfall Monday that led to flooding in several parts of the Valley, closing schools, stranding vehicles and snarling commutes. Both Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer declared states of emergency while other local public safety agencies cautioned residents to be safe and not drive unless absolutely necessary. Several schools closed across the region, including the Maricopa Community College District, which cancelled all classes today.

Ads saying “guns save lives” have begun appearing again this month at Phoenix bus stops after being the subject of a four-year battle between city officials and a local activist, the Arizona Republic reported. The ads for a gun-safety training website overseen by gun-rights advocate Alan Korwin have been placed at bus shelters this month in downtown and northeast Phoenix. …

Unnamed witness:  "at no time was anyone swept." (rifle pointed at them) Dr. Peter N. Steinmetz is director of the Brain Modeling Laboratory  at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.   He is a second amendment advocate who comments on firearms issues on his facebook page.  From his page, commenting on the Navy Yard Shootings in Washington D.C., where the carry of arms by anyone other than government agents is forbidden: Sadly, looks like this may be another case of a mass shooting in an area where all the victims are legally disarmed. He is a passionate supporter of freedom in...