Thread: Rape suspect worked on at least 1 Chandler project

Rape suspect worked on at least 1 Chandler project
Edythe Jensen
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 15, 2008 11:10 AM

While a rapist terrorized Chandler residents and caused the police force to mobilize, the man suspected of being the rapist may have been working on city streets and waterlines.

Municipal public works officials in Chandler who saw photos of Santana Batiz Aceves recognized him as a construction worker on at least one municipal project. Ray Buglion, senior engineer for the city, said municipal inspectors told him Batiz Aceves was a Hunter Contracting employee who had worked on a water line installation at Gilbert and Ocotillo roads in recent months.

Hunter president and CEO Steve Padilla confirmed that the suspect was on the payroll.

"We had an employee that was working with him who was listening to the police reports Saturday and it sounded like someone he worked with," Padilla said. "He checked online and he looked at a photo and verified that it was him, and he notified his boss."

Padilla said Batiz Aceves was a track excavator, operating a back hoe for the 90 days leading to his arrest. He said the suspect, whom police say is an illegal immigrant who was twice deported, must have provided fake documents because the company only employs legal workers.

Evidence and clothing described by rape victims linked the suspect to construction work, and when he was arrested Saturday, Batiz Aceves told police he had worked "on Warner Road" in the past.

Nesbitt Contracting recently completed reconstruction of the Warner and Alma School roads intersection for the city. But Mike Elliott, an owner of Nesbitt Contracting Inc. of Tempe, said Batiz Aceves was never on the company payroll. However, he could have worked on the Alma School/Warner intersection project for one of several subcontractors or for utility relocation companies, Elliott said.

"He may have worked on the job, but not for our company," he said.

Link please?

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-98669-sant ... tiz+aceves