Friday, May 25, 2007

Crime/Emergency Services, May 25, 2007

Friday, May 25, 2007


Undocumented in an Interstate van

A passenger van was stopped on Interstate 17 near Camp Verde Tuesday night when a Yavapai Sheriff's Deputy could not read an obstructed license plate. The van was occupied a 31-year-old Mexican national, who was not licensed to drive.

In addition to the driver, the van was occupied by six other men who were undocumented Mexican nationals as well. The men claimed to be going to Colorado for construction work.

The deputy contacted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), which agreed to take custody of the seven men. They were transported to the Yavapai County Jail facility in Camp Verde to wait for immigration agents.

A meth user's living conditions

A Camp Verde woman was arrested on charges of child abuse and neglect after Child Protective Services and Marshal's deputies found a 5-year-old child and his grandmother living in what authorities describe as squalid conditions. The CPS officer went to the home on Clinton Lane on concerns for the child's welfare.

The officials waited at the door for 15 minutes after the child told them that his mother was sleeping and would not wake up. They repeatedly announced their presence and finally entered the home when no one responded. They said they could smell excrement on entry. The house had a box with several kittens, a mother cat, two dogs and very dirty living conditions.

Venus Walters, 28, half-asleep finally came walking down the hall. According to the report, Walters said she smoked methamphetamine the night before in the Verde Lakes area. The officers explained why they had come and that they had many more concerns about the child's well-being, seeing him running barefoot in the home with piles of animal excrement. The officials said they would try and get her some help for her addiction as well as for her son.

The child reportedly had not been cared for, his hair was greasy, and he had not eaten. The elderly grandmother was found in the back room alone. She hadn't had her medication and had not eaten except for candy and she said she was thirsty. Venus Walters confirmed that the older woman hadn't had her morning medication and it was about 11 a.m. when she finally received her dose.

The older woman's room was dirty and unorganized and there were bags of clothes on her bed and dirty clothing on the floor.

When the officer entered the kitchen to get her water, he reported that all dishes in the cupboards were dirty, and trash and rotting food were everywhere. A fish tank with decomposing fish added to the stench. A second toilet had been pulled, and there was an open sewer pipe in the floor next to the grandmother's room, readily accessible to the child.

The CPS officer contacted Adult Protective Services for the woman while the child was removed by CPS, and Animal Control was called to remove the animals,

Venus Walters was tested and found to have meth in her system, according to the report. She was arrested on charges of possession of dangerous drugs by consumption, possession of drug paraphernalia and child abuse or neglect.

Head-on collision on Cornville Road

Two vehicles collided almost head-on on Cornville Road Wednesday evening. Several occupants were taken to Verde Valley Medical Center for injuries. A baby was protected by its car seat.

One kick too many

On a report of a domestic argument in progress, a Camp Verde deputy was dispatched to an address on Ocotillo Lane.

The 27-year-old victim advised that she had an argument with her boyfriend, Joseph Householder, 23. She said an argument occurred between the two of them, and when she tried to get up to leave the room Joseph kicked her in the face. The woman said she became scared and ran from her residence. An officer spotted a male subject matching thee man's description walking on Ocotillo Lane. Householder admitted he had an argument with his girlfriend, but does not remember anything except for his "toe hitting her chin."

Householder was arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct per domestic violence and placed in the back of a patrol car. When the officer returned to the residence to speak with the alleged victim, he heard loud sounds outside. He looked outside to see the rear passenger window and frame of the police cruiser being kicked out by Householder. The subject was taken from the patrol vehicle, placed in ankle cuffs, and then placed in another patrol unit to be transported to the county jail.

Householder was charged with felony criminal damage for the patrol car window being over $250 and assault and disorderly conduct per domestic violence.

Don't drink and drive

Police expect an increase in the number of injury and fatality accidents, as weekend parties increase for the Memorial Day weekend. If you are driving this weekend, expect to see more police officers on the road.

During Memorial Day Weekend 2006, 451 officers and deputies from the Arizona state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies partnered to make 382 DUI arrests. 94 of the arrests were for extreme DUI and the average Blood Alcohol Content for all the arrested suspects was .140 nearly double the .08 threshold for intoxicated driving in Arizona and across the country.

Clarkdale and Sedona Police and DPS will be among officers conducting DUI and seat belt enforcement this weekend in the Verde Valley.

Motorists who spot an impaired driver this weekend are being urged to memorize the license plate and carefully call 911 on a cell phone to report the conditions.

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