Captain Lauren Pettey
Operations Division West
August 2025
Welcome Sergeant Ashton!
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Sergeant Tyler Ashton recently completed his Sergeant training in Operations Division West. I'll let him introduce himself:
I am the youngest of 3 siblings and I grew up on the east side of Tucson. After high school, I worked as a plumber with my dad and studied Criminal Justice while in college. I was also a lifeguard for the City of Tucson, and enjoyed being a swim team coach during the summer.
I enjoy traveling, camping, and riding my quads. I just got a new horse and am learning to ride him too. I've been on the department for 12 years and was a Field Training Officer and Lead Patrol Officer while in Operations Division Midtown. I was in the department's Detective Mentorship Program, and my goal is to become a Detective Sergeant one day.
I'm thankful for the training at ODW and looking forward to continuing to work with the ODW team in my new role as Sergeant.
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District 30s and 40s Capture Repeat 4th Avenue Offender
This past month, Officer Flynn, Officer Davidson, and Sergeant Urzua conducted extensive follow-up and apprehended a serial burglar and criminal who had been plaguing 4th Avenue merchants. This male suspect was responsible for at least eight different cases, which involved Burglary, Theft, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Damage, and Drug Possession.
Although linked to many criminal cases in the area, the suspect remained unidentified. Through excellent diligence and dedication, reviewing flyers, surveillance, and body-worn camera video, Officers Flynn and Davidson were able to positively identify the suspect.
In the early morning hours of August 11, 2025, Sergeant Urzua was in the area of 4th Avenue in an effort to deter further criminal activity and potentially to apprehend the wanted burglary suspect. Through these proactive efforts, he was able to locate a possible suspect and quickly detained him. The male was positively identified as the same suspect who had been wreaking havoc on 4th Avenue businesses over the last month. He was found to be in possession of illicit drug material, and was booked for several charges linked to the referenced cases.
The capture of this repeat offender was possible due to the dedication of these ODW members. They took it upon themselves to commit extra time and attention, not only to identifying a suspect, but to apprehending him as well. Great job!
Arson Investigation and Arrest by Squad 4 at Grand Luxe Hotel
On July 20, 2025, a male suspect walked into the lobby of the Grand Luxe Hotel on Grant Road and produced a clear bottle with unknown liquid in it, pouring it on the counter. The suspect lit the liquid on fire before running out of the building. The estimated cost of damages was roughly $10,000. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.
ODW officers responded and Officer Gonzalez assisted with securing the scene and broadcasting the suspect description. Officers searched the area, but the suspect was not located. Officer Leonui conducted follow-up, which led to the discovery of the identity of the suspect. Officers Munoz, Pedersen, Holliday, and Montano assisted with locating the suspect and taking him into custody without incident.
TPD Explosives and Hazardous Device Detail (EHDD) Detectives responded and obtained a confession by the suspect. He was booked into the Pima County Jail on the following charges:
- 1 count of Arson of an Occupied Structure
- 1 count of Criminal Damage
- 1 count of Criminal Endangerment
Great job, Squad 4, with the thorough follow-up and diligence working this investigation!
ODW Statistics
Activity
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Type
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2025 Division Year to Date
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2025 Department Year to Date
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Calls for Service
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26,611
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89,955
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Officer-initiated Activity
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7,905
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19,258
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Gun-related Crime
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28
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97
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Homicide
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14
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40
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Traffic Citations
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8,316
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24,017
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