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pima county sheriff

Dumb Tucson criminals make cop job easier: Bumbling burglars and naive bank robber arrested in separate crimes

Law enforcement is a tough job, but sometimes a few dimwitted criminals come along that make a cop’s job a tad easier.

Bank suspect Brian Sallee/TPD photo

Such was the case this week with an afternoon bank robbery from a suspect who appears to have taken hairstyling tips from pop sensation Justin Bieber, and a brazen yet bumbling burglary attempt by suspects who perhaps could use some of those hairstyling tips.

Tucson police arrested the afternoon bank robber Oct. 27 while Pima County sheriff deputies nabbed a trio of brazen burglars Oct. 24, one of whom drove a forklift through a wall to enter a business and another who fought with a sheriff canine, according to news releases from the respective agencies.

The robbery suspect, a Bieber-banged young man, evidently didn’t have much sense when he decided to rob a bank.

In the middle of the afternoon.
In the middle of town.
With no weapons but a demand note – and very slow reflexes coupled with few observational skills.

The would-be robber also picked a branch of the Pima County Federal Credit Union at 3730 N. Stone Ave, a scant 4 miles north of Tucson Police headquarters.

As with many banks, the credit union was equipped with a hold-up alarm, which sends out a 911 to police that a robbery is in progress.

Police were on the scene within one minute to find the suspect still standing there at a teller window.

Brian Maxwell Sallee, 21, was arrested without incident and charged with one count of robbery.

Wesley Wallace/PCSD photo

At least Sallee’s alleged robbery attempt was a bit more subtle than an attempted burglary that went down days earlier when thieves blasted through walls with hammers and a forklift.

Pima County Sheriff deputies were called to the bumbling burglary in progress around 10 p.m. Oct. 24 at a strip of buildings in the industrial area of 3100 block of South Dodge Boulevard.

The exact location of the burglary must have been fairly evident when deputies arrived to find a hole cut through a roll up door.

Randall Gray/PCSD photo

The burglars entered the first business through the hole, went on to drive a forklift through an interior wall to get into a second business and then used hammers to bust through more interior walls to get into a third and fourth business.

“Extensive damage was done to the businesses and warehouse structure,” the release duly noted.

While the Tasmanian-devil approach to burglary may be absurd enough, one of the suspects made the arrest even more absurd by tangling with the sheriff’s canine when the dog found them hiding in crates.

Michael Fink/PCSD photo

Since all three were arrested, his tangling evidently did not pay off.

Arrested were Wesley Wallace, 46; Michael Fink, 48; and Randall Gray, 40. All three were charged with first degree burglary, felony criminal damage, felony theft and possession of burglary tools. The release did not note if they brought their own forklift.

Gray had the addition charge of harming a working animal tacked on for fighting with the sheriff’s K-9.

Best wishes for the canine’s speedy recovery – and the criminals’ speedy prosecution.

[tnipoll]

What do you think?

Are criminals getting dumber?

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, gross stuff, life, police, fire, law, stupidity Tagged With: arrest tucson, arrests pima county, bank robbery dumb, Brian Maxwell Sallee, burglary forklift, crime, danger, dumb criminals, dumb criminals tucson, gross, kooky, Michael Fink, money, odd, pima county sheriff, police canine fight, Randall Gray, ryn gargulinski, rynski, rynski's blogski, sick, tucson, tucson crime, tucson police, twisted, Wesley Wallace

Murder of Thomas Tucker: Drugs, deep resentment recipe for son killing father, cousin says

The large rock found near Thomas Tucker’s pummeled skull could have been the murder weapon. Or it could have been the sledgehammer deputies noted on the porch.

Brandon Tucker was arrested in connection with his father's murder/TPD

In either case, Tom Tucker, 58, was found badly beaten Aug. 24, police records say, his body dragged from the base of a porch wheelchair ramp and left facedown in the dirt beneath a large mesquite tree in the trailer’s driveway.

A pair of sunglasses and baseball cap lay along the drag mark pathway.

His face was so severely mangled that a friend on the scene in the 6700 block of West Dogtown Road asked a deputy for a mouth breather to perform CPR.

Although Tom was breathing, barely, when paramedics arrived, he was pronounced dead soon after.

Tom’s son Brandon Tucker, days shy of his 25th birthday the night of the crime, is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with his father’s death.

“He was shaking his arms up in the air triumphantly and his arms were covered in blood,” police records quote one family member describing Brandon after Tom was beaten, “shouting that he killed his old man.”

Brandon refused a request for an interview.

“My opinion Brandon was coming off drugs, or on them, got mad at something Tom said,” said Brandon’s cousin, who wished to be known only as James. “Add 20 years of hatred – and you have a murder.”

The son: Brandon Tucker

“He was a chill person when sober,” James said of his cousin. “Always mad about something though. I was never around him when he did drugs, but I heard he was just crazy.” He named Brandon’s drug of choice as methamphetamine.

Brandon grew up in Apache Junction with two younger brothers, one younger sister – but largely without a father. Tom left his four kids behind with their mother when Brandon was about 6 or 7.

“He didn’t completely abandon them,” James said, “but would come around every few months and later on, every few years.”

Brandon’s first brush with the law was around age 12, James said, and he was “in and out” of juvenile detention facilities ever since. By the time he hit his late teens, Brandon graduated to crimes like fighting and bicycle and car thefts, James said, possibly the only graduating Brandon ever did.

“He was kicked out of high school, I believe,” James notes. “I don’t believe he ever held a regular job. He did mechanic work. He told me he would rebuild people’s engines in his garage back when he was renting a house with friends. He loved working on cars and dirt bikes.”

In addition to 12 traffic violations, Brandon’s court records on the Arizona Judicial Branch website include a small handful of criminal charges, from disorderly conduct to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, most of which were dismissed.

They also include an order of protection filed against him in 2004 and an ongoing custody battle over one of his children with the child’s mother.

He applied for, and was granted, a marriage license to another woman in 2007, the same year he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge of assault, reckless endangerment and intent to injure. Although still in his 20s, James said Brandon already has three kids, each with a different woman.

Brandon Tucker prison file photo/AZ Dept. of Corrections

A February 2008 drug charge for possession or use of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia landed him a 1-year sentence in Arizona state prison.

The last time James saw his cousin Brandon was earlier this year when Brandon came to Phoenix to help James’ mother move to Denver.

“He just talked about weird things,” James said, “made strange comments. His brothers said he would act real crazy and thought everyone was against him.”

Despite Brandon’s reported rants, he did smile at a few of James’ jokes and offer him some hope.

“He said he wanted to do good and stay out of prison and had to grow up,” James said. “He talked about changing his life around.”

Several months later, Thomas Tucker laid facedown in the driveway, suffering from internal bleeding and fractures, with a rock beside his skull.

“Guess that wasn’t the case.”

The dad: Thomas Tucker

“Tom hasn’t been the best uncle or human being in the world,” James noted, “but in the last couple years I believe he was changing his life around.”

Thomas Tucker prison file photo /AZ Dept. of Corrections

A lifelong construction manager and supervisor, Tom was up for retirement after a 30-year career. His career included more than just construction-related endeavors.

Like his son, Tom had his own substantial rap sheet, including an order of protection filed against him in 1997 as well as some prison time.

Tom’s 5-month sentence in Arizona state prison was for a December 2009 aggravated DUI. Records say he was released in May.

Other entries at the Arizona Judicial Branch website include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a couple of instances of disorderly conduct, reckless burning, issuing a bad check, arson and criminal damage to property.

A dangerous drug charge for possession of equipment to manufacture is also included, as is a 2002 order to attend a parent education class. James said Tom had four children with Brandon’s mother and another son with a different woman.

Unlike his son’s records, most of Tom’s criminal charges were not dismissed.

Despite his criminal record and leaving his family behind nearly 20 years ago, James said Tom was trying to make up for past wrongs.

“He was finally being more of a father to his own children,” James said, even inviting Brandon to come stay with him at the Dogtown Road residence where he was renting a room from a friend.

“He used and manipulated a lot of his family,” James said of his uncle, “but he’d still be willing to help you build your house, or fix anything you needed.”

Tom was outgoing, and especially enjoyed keeping busy – as well as his alcohol, James said.

The last time James recalls Brandon and Tom together was about a decade ago, when James and Brandon were 15 years old.

“They would bicker,” James recalled. “Tom took Brandon’s truck and left us stranded in Springville and Brandon was pissed.”

He didn’t know if the two ever managed to get along since that incident, nor did he know how Tom felt about Brandon.

“I just know he was trying to help him in the end.”

The reunion, the murder

Once Brandon was released from prison, James said he drifted aimlessly around Apache Junction, where Brandon’s mom still lives, staying with friends and lacking any direction.

Dad Tom invited Brandon to come stay with him in Sahuarita, maybe even help him get a job. Brandon arrived at his dad’s house the day prior to the murder.

Tom was renting a room from a family friend who lived on one of three 5-acre parcels at the end of a 3-mile dirt road, James noted. Tom’s sister and her husband lived on another parcel while Tom’s niece and her husband lived on the third.

The owner of Tom’s rental room was not too keen on Brandon staying at his place – police records say he knew Brandon was trouble – so Brandon was supposed to stay with Tom’s sister, his aunt, instead.

One family member noted in police records Brandon was a “self-proclaimed white supremacist,” complete with shaved head and tattoos. It was no secret he was fresh out of prison.

Tom and Brandon had been drinking beer that evening in front of Tom’s sister’s home, police reports say, when Brandon started getting belligerent. He began insulting family members and friends who were also there.

Brandon was told he had to leave for being disrespectful, so he took off towards the family friend’s house, a short jaunt away.

The family friend told Tom he was concerned about Brandon going to his house with no one else there, so Tom went after him.

After about 15 minutes, Brandon returned. Tom did not.

While one person heard heard Brandon yelling while Tom was talking calmly, and another heard dogs going crazy barking, neither witnessed the beating. No one did.

Tom’s landlord’s girlfriend returned from getting dinner groceries to find “a tall guy with a shaved head” kicking something in her boyfriend’s driveway.

She thought he might be kicking her boyfriend’s dogs. It was instead Tom’s crumpled body.

She backed away. “When the male subject saw her, he approached her with his hand outstretched, covered in blood, and he made a statement something to the effect of, ‘Ha ha! I killed him and he’ll never beat another woman again,’” police records say.

He tried to introduce himself as his father, Tom Tucker, but Tom was the woman’s friend, as well as her boyfriend’s tenant, and she knew the man in front of her was not Tom.

She refused to shake the guy’s bloody hand.

Others were soon on the scene, including the home’s owner with a shotgun telling Brandon to get off his property.

Brandon walked off into the desert, calling Tom a “dirty bastard” and screaming, “That’s for all the times you beat my mama when I was a kid. You won’t beat her no more.”

The arrest

Deputies found Brandon about a mile away on another man’s property, high atop a 10-foot scissor lift that the man happened to have in his yard.

He did not come quietly, at least not initially, and instead screamed curses and took off his tank top to throw at one of the deputies.

Brandon was especially loud about the police dog on the scene, hollering how he did not want to be tasered or attacked by the dog.

“The suspect began to yell at the top of his lungs at me,” the deputy with K-9 said in the report. “He yelled almost every imaginable obscenity and told me that he was going to rip my dog’s head off. He stated that he was a Marine and that his hands were registered weapons.”

Deputies finally calmed him down enough so he climbed down from the lift, laid on the ground, and acquiesced to the handcuffs.

He spent the ride in the back of the deputy’s car asking for water and admonishing the deputy.

“He made comments about how my rifle, helmet and night vision on my seat were illegal,” the deputy wrote in the report. “He said those should only be in the possession of a trained helicopter pilot and helicopter personnel who were trained in flight and large artillery.”

During the ride to the station, and in subsequent interviews, Brandon denied killing his father. At some points, he even denied knowing anybody at the scene and said his father was not even around.

When a deputy pointed out the altercation was between him and someone who claims to be his father, the police report says Brandon responded with “Yeah, someone does think he’s my father,” and then said the man was, instead, a “punk a- s n- – – -r.”

The report notes, “He went on to say his real father was the sheriff of Pinal County and Maricopa County and to have him come down here and tell him he is causing trouble.”

James says deep resentment – and drugs – seems more likely to be cause for killing rather than the subject of the argument that directly preceded the homicide.

“I heard it was just an argument about cars,” James said. “Whose car was faster, between Brandon’s and another uncle’s. So all told Tom (that) Brandon has to leave because he’s being disrespectful.

“So Tom went after Brandon to talk to him and that’s when Brandon was waiting for him, ready to kill him.”

Brandon (right) with cousin James in 2010/submitted photo

[tnipoll]

Original post: Allegedly Killed by Son: Thomas Tucker, 58

–

Ryn Gargulinski is a poet, artist, performer and TucsonCitizen.com Ryngmaster whose column usually appears every Friday on Rynski’s Blogski. Her art, writing and more is at RynRules.com and Rynski.Etsy.com. E-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com.

What do you think?

Do you have any resentments that are deep enough to be dangerous?

Have you ever exacted severe revenge?

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, death, gross stuff, life, police, fire, law Tagged With: 6700 west dogtown road, apache junction, brandon tucker, crime, danger, dead, death, dogtown road murder, father killed by son, killed, killer, murder, murder sahuarita, murder tom tucker, patricide, patricide pima county, patricide tucson, pima county killing, pima county murder, pima county sheriff, ryn gargulinski, rynski, sick, son kills father, son murder father, thomas tucker, tom tucker, tucson crime, tucson killing, tucson murder, twisted

Kidnapped in Mexico: Pima sheriff detectives suspect woman snatched in Nogales in drug-related kidnap

We forgot to mention one more potential danger while hanging out in Mexico, one that a 30-year-old woman is suspected to be experiencing firsthand:

Kidnapping.

Lizeth Sillas/submitted photo

Lizeth Sillas, 30, was reported missing by her parents on Aug. 23, and so far the sheriff’s investigation indicates she may have been kidnapped while in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, according to a news release from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Friends and family have not heard from her since July 26, nearly a month ago.

The sheriff’s department notes the possible kidnapping may be “narcotics related.”

Lizeth is described as “a Hispanic female, approximately 5’9” tall and 125 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.”

Detectives urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, life Tagged With: crime, danger, drug kidnapping, help, kidnapped in mexico, lizeth sillas, nogales mexico kidnapping, pima county sheriff, pima county woman kidnapped, ryn gargulinski, rynski, rynski's blogski, sick, tucson crime, tucson woman kidnapped, twisted, woman kidnapped

Arson and hate crimes: Man arrested for one church fire, four still pending

Someone has a God problem – or at least an issue or two with churches, based on a string of arsons that have been blazing around town for the past two months.

Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski
Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski

Arson is one of the most cowardly crimes. It’s tough to be rough and tough when a guy’s claim to fame is setting something aflame and then running away.

We say “guy” because Fire Focus tells us that 80 percent of arsonists are men. These dudes often come from impoverished and dysfunctional families and have a history of behavioral problems.

No fewer than five churches have set aflame since April. The most recent was June 1 at the Coronado Baptist Church around 10:30 a.m. – in broad daylight. The church sits at 2609 N. Park Ave, between Glenn and Grant roads, in the middle of town.

Gabriel J. Villaescusa, 30, was arrested for the June 1 fire, according to an announcement from the Tucson Police Department. The alleged firebug faces charges of arson of an occupied structure, criminal damage, and six counts of endangerment. All are felonies.

The other four arsons were:

* Flowing Wells Baptist Church 4314 N. Romero Rd. at 11:57 p.m. April 9
* Alliance Bible Church, 1301 W. Wetmore Rd. at 11:26 p.m. April 26
* Northwest Community Friends Church, 5950 N. La Canada at 12:18 a.m. April 30
* Catalina Lutheran Church, 15855 N. Twin Lakes at 9:42 p.m. May 10

fireskull
Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the string of church fires as possible hate crimes.

As is the American way, all folks are innocent until proven guilty. We’re not saying Villaescusa is responsible for the latest arson – or all five of them – until a court says so.

But we do know that arsonists often have a history of other criminal behavior and, if the behavior is coupled with bed wetting and animal cruelty, is a prime indicator that the criminal could move on to bigger and better crimes – like murder.

Villaescusa’s record contains no fewer than 11 past criminal infractions, according to Pima County Justice Court records.

They include criminal damage, theft, three incidents of misconduct involving weapons, two incidents of false reporting to law enforcement and two incidents of drinking alcohol a mere three months prior to his 21st birthday. He was busted for drinking twice in October 2000. He turned 21 in December of that year.

To be fair, the theft charge and one false reporting charge were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to a host of others. And now he has some fine arson charges to deal with.

Perhaps little boys don’t sit around thinking they want to grow up to be arsonists, but fire starting can begin at an early age.

Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski
Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski

Fire Setter Profiles

Curious fire setter: Usually young kid who throws matches at the family cat or plays with lighters and curtains.

Troubled fire setters: Usually youngish kid who sets fires as a cry for help or attention.

Delinquent fire setter: Generally an adolescent who is impulsive, irresponsible, has poor social skills and crappy judgment who likes to oppose authority. Often riddled with behavioral problems and bad grades.

Strategic fire setters: Usually a teen with a rap sheet and penchant for delinquent behavior who has no guilt whatsoever about the fire and laughs in the face of the consequences.

Pathological fire setter: Usually a loner who has long been fascinated with fire, likely a victim of abuse and a history of neurological or medical issues. These are rare birds.

Pyromaniacs: Please do not mix up the ho-hum arsonist with the exciting pyromaniac, someone who usually has little or no control over his impulse to burn things down.

Then there is the motivation. Folks set fires to vandalize, for revenge or for the thrill of it all. Some arsonists actually get a sexual rush after setting things aflame.

And here comes a peek at the serial arsonist:

The serial arsonist is involved in three or more separate fire setting episodes with a characteristic emotional cooling off period between fires. This period may last days weeks or even years.

Serial arson is the most serious type of arson due to apparent random selection of victims and unpredictable gaps between incidents.

Furthermore a serial arson is not a separate or distinct motive for fire setting it is a pattern of fire setting frequently encountered in revenge, excitement or extremist motivated arson

Serial arsonists often create a climate of fear in entire communities community leaders tend to compound the problem by pressuring law enforcement agencies to identify and quickly apprehend the fire setter often the arsonist evades apprehension for months while investigators become increasing frustrated by the lack of experience in handling these baffling cases

This type of arson usually involves a disorganized crime scene physical evidence is often present. The offender frequently uses available materials found at the scene and carries the source of ignition with them usually a long offender is involved.

He will tend to be minimally educated and an underachiever. He generally has poor interpersonal relationships and is socially inadequate. Often he is unemployed and if he has an employment history it is erratic and involves little or no skill.

Serial arsonists often have a history of substance abuse and a history of police contact/arrests for minor nuisance offenses.

The offender walks to the scene of the fire and generally lives within one mile of the crime scene He is very likely familiar with the crime scene and could justify his presence in the area.

It is important to analyze the cluster centers of fire activity. The tighter the cluster the closer to the area of significance to the offender.

Source: Winnipeg Police Service and Crime Classification Manual

Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski
Fire file photo Ryn Gargulinski

[tnipoll]

wb-logolil

What do you think?

Have you ever hated anything enough to burn it down?

Do you know any arsonists?

Have you ever burned a flag? Styrofoam?

Someone in effigy? Please explain.

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, life, police, fire, law, stupidity Tagged With: alliance bible church, arson, arson arizona, arson arrest pima county, arson arrest tucson, arson pima county, arson tucson, catalina lutheran church, church fires, church fires pima county, church fires tucson, Coronado Baptist Church, crime, danger, death, flowing wells baptist church, Gabriel J. Villaescusa, god issues, gross, hate crimes, hate crimes church, hate crimes pima county, hate crimes tucson, northwest community firends church, pima county sheriff, ryn gargulinski, rynski, rynski's blogski, serial arson pima county, serial arson tucson, serial arsonist, tucson, tucson crime, tucson police, twisted

Is Tucson safe for kids? Two attempted abductions in less than week – Update: second kid was lying

For the second time in less than a week, a man tried to abduct a teenage girl on her way to the bus stop, according to news releases from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Two different men and two different girls were involved. One of the would-be abductors had a gun.

Are you moving yet?

abduct1THISThe first girl targeted was a 15-year-old on her way to the bus stop around Camino de Oeste and Ivory Rose around 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 19.

The guy got out of his white Ford Ranger pickup, complete with dark tinted windows, pointed the gun at the girl and demanded she come with him.

She ran.

The Jan. 19 suspect is described as a Caucasian male, early to mid-40s, thin build, approximately 6’0” tall with dark brown hair wearing a dark blue pullover hoodie, light blue jeans and brown hiking boots. He was armed with a black and silver handgun.

___

abduct2THISThe second girl* was a 12-year-old heading to the bus stop near Romero and Wetmore roads around 7:50 a.m. on Jan. 25.

This guy grabbed the girl around the waist from behind but she pulled away and ran to the nearest Circle K and called 911.

The Jan. 25 suspect is described as a light colored skin male with a thin build. He was between 20 to 30 years old and between 5’7” to 6’0” tall. He was wearing black sweat pants, which appeared to be dirty and worn, and a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled tightly around his face. He was also wearing black shoes.

___

Maybe folks should drive their kids to school for a while.

Both girls, thankfully, did the right thing. They ran. They called for help. They reported it to authorities. They got home safe.

Running, kicking, screaming, struggling and calling any attention to the situation is the way to go. Never go quietly into that dark car.

Kids should also know the target areas that can really hurt a person, such as their eyeballs, knees and, of course, the groin area.

While the guys attempting these abductions used a deadly weapon and physical force, respectively, the Tucson Police Department points out some other tactics abductors may use.

Like asking the kid to come with them to help them find a lost puppy. They may also bribe the kid with money – or that infamous candy from strangers – or tell the child his parents and have been in an accident of some sort and hurry, come with me.

Parents should also pay attention to what their kids are wearing every day and keep current photos, just in case.

Never put the kid’s name on the outside of his clothes – that’s just begging for a stranger to pretend he knows the child. The same caution should be used for your pets. Never outfit your dog with a collar that has his name blazoned across it in neon.

“Come here, Leo, Leo.”

Police also suggest getting your kid fingerprinted, making sure he knows your phone number and how to make a collect call, and your address.

The buddy system works – abductors don’t particularly care for kids traveling in pairs – as does having neighbors keep watch and telling the school to call you if your kid doesn’t get there one day.

Make sure the route to the bus stop does not include alleyways or other potentially dangerous areas.

Don’t worry about frightening your child by sharing such info, the situation would be a lot scarier if he or she were not prepared.

Too bad the biggest fear about going to school may be way more intense than simply forgetting to do the homework.

For more info on Tucson police child abduction prevention click HERE.

*UPDATE 1/26:

The 12-year-old girl who claimed she was nearly abducted on Jan. 25 was lying about the incident, according to an e-mail from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”The case has been closed.”

[tnipoll]

wb-logolilWhat do you think?

What precautions do you take to make sure your kids are safe?

Have you ever run into similar situations?

What did you do?

What about kids carrying weapons? Should they be allowed to?

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, gross stuff, life, police, fire, law Tagged With: crime, danger, gross, kid safety pima county, kid safety tucson, kidnapping pima county, kidnapping tucson, pima county abductions, pima county crime, pima county sheriff, tucson abduction, tucson crime, tucson police, twisted

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