Briefs: Hungry Javelina gets stuck in a car and goes for a drive in Arizona | Kingman Miner Daily

CORNVILLE — A starving javelin in Arizona ended up taking a drive when she got stuck in an empty car and brought it to a stop.

Yavapai County deputies responded to a call last week in Cornville, a community 10 miles south of Sedona, about a javelin stuck in a Subaru station wagon. Javelins are pig-like animals native to desert environments.

After speaking with the car owner and other residents, they determined that the car’s tailgate had been left open overnight. The javelin jumped to reach a bag of Cheetos. The hatch then closed, trapping the animal inside. Authorities say the javelina ripped off part of the dashboard and the inside of a door in an attempt to escape.

The animal then managed to put the car in neutral, rolling it into the driveway and across the street. The Subaru came to a stop and the Javelin was unharmed.

A deputy opened the hatch and the javelin was able to head out into the desert.

Goodyear police officer’s firing for breach of protocol confirmed

GOODYEAR — The firing of a Goodyear police officer for violating department protocols in nearly a dozen death investigations has been upheld, city officials said Monday.

Lt. Dwayne Pollard was fired last November after an internal investigation into his actions in 11 natural death investigations.

Pollard appealed the dismissal, and city officials said an independent hearing officer recommended that the appeal be dismissed and Pollard’s dismissal be affirmed.

City officials said Pollard examined the deceased in a way that was inconsistent with what was expected with this type of case.

Police department policy states that the medical examiner is generally the only person authorized to move, handle, search, or move a person who is known to be dead.

Police officials said an officer may conduct a reasonable search of a person believed to be dead or near death for identification purposes.

An independent criminal review was conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which determined that Pollard did not engage in criminal activity or violate any state laws.

1 dead in multi-vehicle car crash on US 93 near Wickenburg

WICKENBURG — Authorities say a person died in a multi-vehicle crash on a highway just outside of Phoenix.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety reports the crash on US 93 north of Wickenburg happened around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Two utility vehicles and a pickup truck were involved in a collision in the northbound lanes, but halted traffic in both directions.

The closures are expected to last several hours.

The accident investigation is still ongoing.

Tucson couple found guilty of defrauding investors out of $5 million

TUCSON — A Tucson couple who ran a software company have been convicted of defrauding investors of approximately $5 million, federal authorities say.

Prosecutors said Michael Feinberg, 73, and his wife Betsy Feinberg, 80, were convicted by jurors Friday after a trial in U.S. District Court in Tucson. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on June 15. According to evidence presented at trial, the Feinbergs’ company promised investors and philanthropists huge returns.

Their self-proclaimed revolutionary software was also supposed to give people the ability to create programs without having to be a programmer.

Prosecutors said the couple made false promises about the completion date, release date and capabilities of the software for 15 years. They said the Feinbergs used the investors’ money to pay themselves salaries and pay personal expenses, including their mortgage on a Sedona home.

The couple were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of securities fraud.

2 dead at Apache Junction after a collision between a motorcycle and a car

APACHE JUNCTION — Two people were killed when the three-wheeled motorcycle they were riding was hit by a car in Apache Junction, police said Sunday. Police said the driver of the car allegedly ran a red light at an intersection before colliding with the motorbike around 6.30pm on Saturday evening and could have been driving while impaired.

A man and a woman were killed in the accident, but police did not release their names and ages.

The identity of the suspect has also not yet been released.

Police said the driver was being treated at an Apache Junction hospital for undisclosed injuries.

Phoenix police: man charged with fatally running over victim

PHOENIX — A man suspected of fatally running over another man with a vehicle has been arrested, Phoenix police say.

They said Paul Scott, 62, was jailed on suspicion of first degree murder.

It was unclear Sunday whether Scott had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Police said officers were called to the scene late Friday night after receiving reports that a man had been hit by a car in a parking lot.

According to them, the victim died of his injuries.

His name and age have not yet been released.

Police say Scott and the victim clashed about an hour before Scott ran the victim over with his car.

Scott remained at the scene until police arrived.

Southbound I-17 closed at Sunset Point after hitting pedestrian

PHOENIX — Authorities say a fatal crash closed a short segment of southbound Interstate 17 at the Sunset Point Rest Area, delaying incoming traffic to the Phoenix subway on Monday morning.

The state Department of Public Safety said at least one vehicle struck a pedestrian in the southbound lanes and an investigation is ongoing. It was unclear why the pedestrian was on the roadway.

The Arizona Department of Transportation said traffic exited at Sunset Point and re-entered the freeway on the south side of the rest area.