On Thursday, May 11, 2023, at approximately 1:57 a.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers were finishing an investigation at an earlier collision scene when they observed a wrong-way driver in a white Honda Civic pass them traveling southbound in the northbound HOV lane of State Route 51 near Shea Boulevard.

Two troopers immediately jumped in their patrol vehicles and reported the incident to dispatchers as they looped back on State Route 51 to get ahead of and intercept the wrong-way driver.

Both troopers intentionally collided with the wrong-way vehicle just north of Glendale Avenue, bringing it to a stop and effectively ending the threat to other motorists.

The troopers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released from a local hospital.

The 81-year-old female wrong way driver was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Troopers determined the driver was confused and impairment was not a factor.

On the morning of Friday, June 2, 2023, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Drug Enforcement and Investigations Bureau trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2015 Honda Accord passenger car on northbound Interstate 19 at kilometer 54 near Amado, Arizona. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 229.8 pounds of fentanyl pills and 9.65 pounds of cocaine hidden within the vehicle.

The drugs were being smuggled from Sonora, Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona.

The suspect driver, 27-year-old Fernando Alfonso-Fernandez, was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on charges including possession, transportation, and sale of narcotic drugs for sale.

The estimated 1,042,000 pills and 9.65 pounds of cocaine have an estimated street value in Phoenix of $3.1 million. 

On Monday, June 5, 2023, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper stopped the driver of a Toyota Camry for moving and equipment violations on northbound Interstate 17 in Anthem. During the traffic stop the suspect drove away, leading to a pursuit on northbound Interstate 17. The suspect later came to a stop near milepost 254 and was detained by troopers without further incident.

Troopers conducted a search of the suspect’s vehicle and found approximately 54 pounds of fentanyl pills and 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the car. The drugs were being transported from the Phoenix area to Denver, Colorado.

The driver, 28-year-old Omar C. Arias, was booked into the Yavapai County Jail on charges including unlawful flight from law enforcement, possession and transportation of a narcotic drug for sale, possession and transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Recent U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lab tests have shown roughly 6 out of every 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of the powerful opiate. Please talk to your loved ones – especially teens – about the dangers of taking unknown pills. Remember, just one pill can kill. Visit dea.gov/fentanylawareness for more information.

On the morning of Wednesday, June 21, 2023, detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) State Gang Task Force Career Criminal Unit, assisted by the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) Office of Inspector General, served four residential search warrants and arrested six suspects in connection to an ongoing fraudulent schemes investigation.

The investigation began in May of 2023, when AZDPS detectives and ADCRR personnel conducted cell searches at a correctional center in Eloy. These searches resulted in the discovery of numerous documents consistent with a potential fraudulent scheme.

Following further investigation, detectives learned multiple victims were contacted by a company called “Debt 2 Credit Associates”, which claimed to be part of a government grant program with money to help people pay off debt. As part of this scam, victims were instructed to buy gold and ship it to addresses in Arizona.

Detectives have identified and been in contact with ten victims who have lost money, with dozens more who are victims of aggravated identity theft. Some of the victims have lost up to $200,000 in this fraudulent scheme, with a current total loss estimated between $500,000 and $600,000.

Currently, all of the victims identified by detectives reside outside of Arizona.

The addresses provided by the victims who mailed gold came back to known associates or former ADCRR inmates. Detectives discovered several packages of gold or other precious metals that were sent as part of this fraudulent scheme.

The suspects who were not already in custody were booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers and fellow Street Racing Task Force partners responded to reports of vehicles involved in intersection takeovers throughout the Valley.

During an incident at an intersection in Mesa, one of the involved drivers struck a pedestrian participant and then fled the scene. With assistance from task force partners – including the City of Mesa Police Department, Phoenix Police Department and Tempe Police Department – the suspect vehicle was located and an AZDPS sergeant successfully deployed the Grappler Police Bumper, netting one of the vehicle’s rear tires and bringing it to a safe stop.

The driver and passenger, both 17-year-old males, were detained and cited for street racing and the vehicle was impounded.

Street racing and intersection takeovers not only pose a significant disruption for other motorists, but they also endanger the lives of participants, pedestrians, and everyone on the road. Anyone caught engaging in street racing may face penalties including a 20-day vehicle impound, fines, community restitution, and the possibility of jail time for second and subsequent offenses.

AZDPS would like to thank our partner agencies for their continued efforts and support, which are critical in deterring and stopping this criminal activity.

Troopers Use Grappler Police Bumper to Stop Street Racing Suspect

Alert: Cartels are recruiting your children!

Troopers have seen an increasing trend of cartels using social media to recruit youth for human smuggling operations. These actions endanger not only the youth involved, but also the smuggling victims and our local communities.

Please help us spread the message: human smuggling is a very dangerous and serious crime with severe consequences.

If you have a tip regarding human smuggling, call the Arizona Tip Line at 1-877-429-8477 or visit azdps.gov/tips. You can remain anonymous.

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Alerta: ¡Los carteles están reclutando a sus hijos!

La policía estatal ha visto un aumento en la tendencia de los carteles de usar las redes sociales para reclutar jóvenes para operaciones de contrabando humano. Estas acciones ponen en peligro no tan solo a los jóvenes involucrados, sino también a las víctimas de contrabando y a nuestras comunidades locales.

Por favor ayúdenos a difundir el mensaje: contrabando de humanos es un crimen muy serio y peligroso con consecuencias severas.

Si usted tiene información sobre contrabando humano, llame a la Línea de reporte de Arizona al 1-877-429-8477 o visite azdps.gov/tips. Usted puede permanecer anónimo.

Cartels Recruiting Youth for Human Smuggling

Contrabando de Personas Utilizando Jóvenes

A “routine” traffic stop for an Arizona State Trooper is often unpredictable.

Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Trooper Sean Harkins’ body-worn camera video from Monday, June 19, 2023, shows him shortly after 11:30 a.m. as he stopped the driver of a Kia sedan near 21st Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix. As Trooper Harkins walked towards the vehicle, the suspect, 29-year-old Luis Mateo Jacobo Borja, opened fire, striking Trooper Harkins in the leg. Trooper Harkins managed to get back to his patrol vehicle and call for assistance.

AZDPS is grateful to Phoenix Police, firefighters, EMS, and all of the assisting agencies.

AZDPS would like to send special recognition to the doctors and medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center who treated Trooper Harkins, who was released from the hospital and is now recovering at home.

AZDPS defers to the investigating agency, Phoenix Police Department, for any additional information regarding this incident.

Body-Worn Camera Footage from June 19th Trooper-Involved Shooting Released

On Monday, June 19, 2023, AZDPS received a report of a male suspect impersonating a police officer on Interstate 17 in the area of milepost 317, south of Flagstaff. Both the suspect and victim stopped on an exit ramp following a minor road rage incident, and the suspect approached the victim’s vehicle with a holstered handgun in his right hand. During their interaction, the suspect claimed he was a police officer and an undercover detective responding to an emergency call, and claimed the victim could go to jail for obstruction. When the victim asked to see the suspect’s badge, the suspect returned to his vehicle and drove away.

The victim recorded portions of the incident and provided the footage to AZDPS. Detectives identified the suspect as 55-year-old Shawn E. Osborn. On Tuesday, June 20th, Osborn was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail on charges including:

• Impersonating a peace officer
• Carrying a weapon in the commission of a crime
• Disorderly conduct with a firearm
• Assault
• Threatening or intimidating

Detectives believe there may be additional victims from other impersonation incidents involving Osborn.

Any potential victims should contact the AZDPS Duty Office at 602-223-2212.

Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/9jGQ6wzVFqE?feature=share

On Thursday, January 12, 2023, at approximately 6:14 a.m., a six-vehicle collision involving two commercial vehicles occurred on eastbound Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard (milepost 160.4). At the time of the collision, Interstate 10 was closed at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard due to an earlier crash involving multiple semi-trucks.

The driver of the at-fault tractor-trailer, identified as 36-year-old Danny G. Tiner, said he received a message on his electronic work tablet and acknowledged the message. Tiner said when he looked back up traffic was stopped, and he could not stop his vehicle in time to avoid a collision. Five people died as a result of the crash. Immediately following the collision, troopers suspected driver distraction as a possible factor in the collision.

The investigation revealed Tiner was traveling 68 mph in the posted 55-mph construction zone and was actively using the TikTok application on his cell phone at the time of the collision.

Tiner was notified of an investigation and turned his cell phone over to law enforcement. Investigators conducted a forensic examination of Tiner’s cell phone with assistance from the FBI.

Based upon the results of the investigation, AZDPS troopers and detectives arrested Tiner at his residence on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Tiner was booked into jail on charges including:

• 5 counts of manslaughter, class 2 felony
• 4 counts of endangerment, class 6 felony
• 1 count of tampering with physical evidence, class 6 felony

AZDPS would like to thank our partners at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their assistance throughout this investigation.

To review the incident management log for this incident, please visit www.azdps.gov/news/ims/91.