Wash Campsite Yields Stolen Items, Cash, Firearms, Gems
 On May 24, 2025, ODS officers responded to a tracker activation at a Spectrum Mall retailer. Responding units worked with loss prevention and followed the tracker to a wash area just south of I-19 and Irvington. CRT officers located a campsite in the wash about 100 yards south of a pawn shop on West Irvington. As officers approached the camp, several subjects ran from the area. The suspect from the theft was not located. An attempt to ID was placed on the male who stole the tracked item from the mall retailer.
As officers were looking for the stolen items, they noticed approximately 50 totes stacked by a tent. Most said "Property of (a drugstore)" on them. They also located about 50 bicycles, generators, power tools, toolboxes, etc., which were suspected to be stolen property. ODS detectives were notified and responded. Officers obtained a search warrant for the camp. Inside the totes, they located clothing and purses with tags, power tools still in boxes, laundry soap, cosmetics, and additional items.
Inside the tent, three cellphones were recovered, along with narcotics and $1,035 in cash. A large truck toolbox was located with two padlocks on it. Inside the toolbox were 13 guns (handguns, rifles, and shotguns). Some of the guns had been illegally modified, and a large amount of ammunition was also recovered. Sgt. Soltero with TPD gun crimes was advised. Located in a metal locked briefcase, officers found $155 in change and a locked cash box. Inside the cash box was $370 in cash, currency from several different countries, jewelry, and what appeared to be loose diamonds.
Evidence was called to assist with the large amount of property that was recovered. The investigation is ongoing, with multiple strong leads.
Sergeant Dragon and his team (in photo above, left to right, Sergeant Dragon, Lead Patrol Officer Morgan, and Officer Burnett) exemplified the Tucson Police Department values of leadership, excellence, service orientation, and teamwork. We're grateful for their efforts that led to this discovery.
Park After Hours Drug Arrest
On June 3, 2025, Lead Patrol Officer Martin and Officer Miller were conducting a check of Mission Manor Park on South 12th Avenue when they contacted a large group that scattered. A male on a bicycle was seen leaving the area much faster than anyone else. A traffic stop was attempted on the male, who continued to flee. Additional officers quickly responded and were able to follow the male as he led officers through multiple neighborhoods in his attempt to escape. Ultimately, he was safely detained. As that was happening, several items of paraphernalia fell out of his pockets. Search incident to arrest revealed 40 M30s ("blues") on his person. He was also in possession of two cellphones and $689.57 in cash, separated into multiple different rolls. LPO Martin then retraced his flight path and bike tracks and located a handgun in a nearby trash can. After being read his Miranda rights, the male denied possession of the gun or narcotics sales activity.
The male was placed under arrest and booked for resisting arrest, being in a park after hours, and narcotics and paraphernalia possession. Evidence of possible gun possession and narcotics sales was documented. The blues, cash, phones, and firearm were all collected and entered into evidence.
Hot Spot Meth Arrest
On June 7, 2025, while conducting proactive hot spot patrols near 6th Avenue and I-10, Officer Miller observed a male on a bike make a brief contact with a vehicle. The officer then observed the vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop. As the stop was initiated, the officer saw one of the passengers throw a meth pipe out the window. The driver quickly exited the vehicle, very agitated, and was immediately detained. Officer Varela arrived on scene and saw a baggie of meth in plain view near the driver's floorboard. The front passenger was directed to exit and more paraphernalia was seen in plain view within the passenger's span of control. The back passenger was also found to be in control of paraphernalia and was searched, locating more on his person. Search of the rest of the vehicle was conducted and a backpack with identifying documents of the driver was located, containing another baggie of meth. The passengers were cited and released for paraphernalia possession and the driver was booked into the Pima County Jail for possession of dangerous drugs. The vehicle was towed for safekeeping.
Bike Traffic Stop Yields Firearm Arrest
On June 13, 2025, while conducting proactive policing in the area of 12th Avenue and Dakota Street, Officer Pimentel saw a traffic violation and conducted a traffic stop on a male riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. The male identified himself and denied having any weapons on his person, but then attempted to flee. He was unsuccessful, thanks to Officer Flores, and was detained without incident.
Officers performed a Terry frisk of the male's waistline, which revealed a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun tucked into the front of his waistband. After taking physical control of the firearm, officers saw that the serial number had been scratched out.
After being read his Miranda rights, the male admitted to defacing the serial number, knowing that it was illegal to do so. A records check revealed him to be a convicted felon. He denied ownership of the firearm and claimed it was his friend's, who had recently died in a shooting on San Xavier. The Tohono O'odham Police Department was notified and advised that they would conduct follow up at the jail.
Upon arrival at the medical screening window at the jail, the male advised staff that he had an unreported open gunshot wound to his right thigh, which happened two weeks earlier. He was taken to Banner South for medical clearance, and eventually booked into Pima County Jail on charges of prohibited possessor, defacing a deadly weapon, and possession of a defaced deadly weapon.
Meth, Domestic Violence Arrest
On June 17, 2025, Officer Valle conducted a traffic stop on a male on a bicycle in the area of West Drexel and South Santa Clara.
A records check showed that the male had a stop and arrest flyer for narcotics and a warrant for domestic violence. When the officer attempted to detain the male, he took off running. After a brief foot pursuit, he ran into a front yard where he was detained, and a plastic baggie of meth was found under a vehicle parked at that address.
The male was booked into the Pima County Jail for narcotics charges and a domestic violence warrant.
Fentanyl, Meth Arrest
On June 18, 2025, officers were conducting proactive enforcement in the area of 22nd and Park when they contacted a female who was trespassing outside a commercial property. Officers could see indicia of drug paraphernalia in her reach, including burnt foil, a small straw with black residue, a lighter, and vape pens. The female was arrested. Search revealed that she had a small bag of meth and a straw with black residue in her jeans pockets. She also had a container keychain around her neck. Inside the container were eight blue M30 pills.
She was booked into the Pima County Jail for unlawful possession of a dangerous drug (meth), unlawful possession of a narcotic drug (fentanyl), and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered
On June 21, 2025, officers located a stolen Dodge Journey parked in the 100 block of West Ohio Street. The driver (male) and the front passenger (female) were detained.
After being read his Miranda rights, the driver claimed that, the previous day, a male had approached him at Rodeo Park and asked him to drive the vehicle to the carwash. The driver said that it felt suspicious, but he still took possession of the vehicle and parked it at the carwash with the key fob. The following morning, the driver saw the vehicle still parked at the carwash and took possession of it. Despite having suspicions, the driver denied stealing the vehicle and claimed that voices told him to take it. During search incident to arrest, officers located blue M30 pills, and the driver later claimed to have swallowed 32 of them; however, he was medically cleared and booked into the Pima County Jail.
ODS Statistics
Activity
|
Type
|
2025 Division Year to Date
|
2025 Department Year to Date
|
|
Calls for Service
|
15,338
|
64,244
|
|
Officer-initiated Activity
|
3,430
|
14,134
|
|
Gun-related Crime
|
24
|
66
|
|
Homicide
|
13
|
30
|
|
Traffic Citations
|
1,994
|
18,220
|
|
