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Massive Manhunt Underway After Sheriff's Deputy Shot and Killed Near Ariz. Border
Published August 27, 2010 | FoxNews.com
Authorities in Utah are investigating a "credible sighting" of a gunman who allegedly shot and killed a Utah sheriff's deputy in a remote desert area in northern Arizona, Fox13Now.com reported.
Utah police said Kane County, Utah, Deputy Sheriff Brian Harris was shot Thursday about three miles east of Fredonia, a small town just south of the Utah border.
Officials say Harris, 41, was chasing a burglary suspect, identified as Scott Curley, 23, on foot Thursday afternoon when the suspect allegedly opened fire on Harris, killing the deputy with a high-powered rifle.
The manhunt for Curley continued through the night and into Friday. Scores of police officers, including FBI agents and U.S. Marshals from multiple states, scoured the remote desert area for any sign of Curley, described by authorities as Native American and 5"7', weighing 170 pounds.
On Friday, authorities said they received a 911 call from a woman in Kanab, Utah, who claimed she spotted a man matching Curley's description, according to the station.
The woman reportedly told police that the man was armed and standing near a trailer on a dirt road just six miles east of Kanab.
Arizona court records show multiple arrests for Curley, whom acquaintances describe as violent and unstable. Fox13Now.com reported that the incident first unfolded when Curley broke into Fredonia High School on Thursday, looking to steal chemicals in the science lab to make methamphetamine. A school custodian caught Curley, who then held him hostage for more than three hours, the station reported.
Coconino County sheriff's commander Kurt Braatz said Harris was a resident of Mount Carmel, Utah, married with two daughters.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert described the sheriff's deputy as a lawman who put "himself in a dangerous situation to protect his community."
Harris' friends and family members gathered at his home on Friday to offer comfort and condolences.
"He was our go-to guy," his mother Bonnie Harris told The Salt Lake City Tribune. "He did everything for us."
The Gulf War veteran joined the sheriff's office after returning from the Mideast and enjoyed his work, especially rescuing lost or stranded people, said his brother, Bert Harris.
"He loved law enforcement. It was his thing," said his father Bruce Harris.
Click here to read more on this story from Fox13Now.com
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Arizona Hits Back at Immigration Ruling as 'Wrong' on Law
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Arizona Files Legal Brief Hitting Back at Federal Ruling Against State's Immigration Law
Published August 26, 2010 | FoxNews.com
PHOENIX -- Gov. Jan Brewer's lawyers on Thursday filed the first brief in their appeal of a ruling that put the most controversial elements of Arizona's new immigration law on hold.
The governor says the federal ruling blocking portions of Arizona's controversial immigration law "has caused irreparable harm" to the state's residents.
Brewer wants the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to reverse the ruling U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton made last month.
The governor's office says Bolton abused her discretion by applying the wrong legal standards and basing her ruling on the federal government's speculation that it would be harmed by Arizona's law. Brewer says the judge ignored key provisions of federal law that allow states to enforce immigration law.
The U.S. Justice Department went to court in a bid to invalidate the law.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment Thursday.
Bolton blocked provisions of the law that requires immigrants to obtain or carry immigration registration papers and that require police, while enforcing other laws, to question people's immigration status if there is a reasonable suspicion they're in the country illegally.
But the judge let other portions take effect late last month, such a ban on blocking traffic when people seek or offer day-labor services on streets, and amendments to existing state immigration laws.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Arizona Files Legal Brief Hitting Back at Federal Ruling Against State's Immigration Law
PHOENIX -- Gov. Jan Brewer's lawyers on Thursday filed the first brief in their appeal of a ruling that put the most controversial elements of Arizona's new immigration law on hold.
The governor says the federal ruling blocking portions of Arizona's controversial immigration law "has caused irreparable harm" to the state's residents.
Brewer wants the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to reverse the ruling U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton made last month.
The governor's office says Bolton abused her discretion by applying the wrong legal standards and basing her ruling on the federal government's speculation that it would be harmed by Arizona's law. Brewer says the judge ignored key provisions of federal law that allow states to enforce immigration law.
"The decision to suspend portions of SB 1070 has caused irreparable harm to the safety and well-being of Arizona's citizens who continue to suffer every day that the federal government refuses to do its job," Brewer said in a written statement.
The U.S. Justice Department went to court in a bid to invalidate the law.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment Thursday.
Bolton blocked provisions of the law that requires immigrants to obtain or carry immigration registration papers and that require police, while enforcing other laws, to question people's immigration status if there is a reasonable suspicion they're in the country illegally.
But the judge let other portions take effect late last month, such a ban on blocking traffic when people seek or offer day-labor services on streets, and amendments to existing state immigration laws.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Ariz. Shelves Plan to Alter Immigration Law
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- Associated Press, August 18, 2010
PHOENIX -- Arizona legislators are setting aside Gov. Jan Brewer's suggestion that lawmakers consider changing parts of the state's controversial immigration law.
Brewer on July 30 floated the idea of making "tweaks" to the law shortly after a federal judge blocked implementation of numerous provisions. Legislative aides said Tuesday the idea has been shelved, at least temporarily, mainly because of the state's pending appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
There's still a possibility that lawmakers could take up the issue in the future but nothing is in the works now, Riches added.
Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brewer didn't suggest specific changes to the law but expressed a willingness to consider changes in response to the preliminary injunction issued July 28 by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton.
Legislative leaders voiced skepticism about Brewer's idea from the get-go but had aides review it before concluding that no immediate action should be taken.
Legislative aides said Brewer raised the possibility of considering changes to the immigration law during a brief special session held last week on an unrelated topic, but she ultimately didn't include it in her special session call.
Jernigan noted that the appellate court has agreed to put the case on a fast track, scheduling a hearing on the case in early November.
Although lawmakers could narrow the reach of a blocked provision barring release of arrested people pending checks of their immigration status, it wasn't realistic to consider changing other provisions blocked by Bolton on grounds that they're pre-empted by federal authority over immigration matters, Jernigan said.
Besides the provision on immigration checks for arrested people, blocked provisions included a requirement that police check a person's status while enforcing other laws if there's a reasonable suspicion the person is in the United States illegally. Bolton also blocked provisions that required immigrants to carry their papers and banned immigrants from soliciting employment in public places.
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- Associated Press, August 18, 2010
PHOENIX -- Arizona legislators are setting aside Gov. Jan Brewer's suggestion that lawmakers consider changing parts of the state's controversial immigration law.
Brewer on July 30 floated the idea of making "tweaks" to the law shortly after a federal judge blocked implementation of numerous provisions. Legislative aides said Tuesday the idea has been shelved, at least temporarily, mainly because of the state's pending appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Everyone agreed ... that it would have been acting in haste to act at this point," said Victor Riches, chief of staff for the House of Representatives' Republican majority.
There's still a possibility that lawmakers could take up the issue in the future but nothing is in the works now, Riches added.
Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brewer didn't suggest specific changes to the law but expressed a willingness to consider changes in response to the preliminary injunction issued July 28 by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton.
Legislative leaders voiced skepticism about Brewer's idea from the get-go but had aides review it before concluding that no immediate action should be taken.
"It's in the middle of the appeal process. We need to see how at least what the 9th Circuit says," said Greg Jernigan, general counsel to Senate Republicans.
Legislative aides said Brewer raised the possibility of considering changes to the immigration law during a brief special session held last week on an unrelated topic, but she ultimately didn't include it in her special session call.
Jernigan noted that the appellate court has agreed to put the case on a fast track, scheduling a hearing on the case in early November.
Although lawmakers could narrow the reach of a blocked provision barring release of arrested people pending checks of their immigration status, it wasn't realistic to consider changing other provisions blocked by Bolton on grounds that they're pre-empted by federal authority over immigration matters, Jernigan said.
The pre-emption issue will have to be settled by the courts, Jernigan added.
Besides the provision on immigration checks for arrested people, blocked provisions included a requirement that police check a person's status while enforcing other laws if there's a reasonable suspicion the person is in the United States illegally. Bolton also blocked provisions that required immigrants to carry their papers and banned immigrants from soliciting employment in public places.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
DOJ Holds Off On Suing Arpaio — For Now
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By Mike Levine
On August 17, 2010 @ 6:45 PM In Immigration
The Justice Department says it won't follow through on a threat to sue controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- at least not for another week.
According to a Justice Department official, things are on hold pending a meeting set for next Tuesday in Washington with Justice Department officials and lawyers for Arpaio, whose office is under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged civil rights violations. Arpaio has become a controversial figure over what some say are overly aggressive tactics to fight illegal immigration in Arizona.
In a letter dated Aug. 3, the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Tom Perez, accused Arpaio of failing to cooperate with the department's investigation, warning that, "Absent [your office's] voluntary cooperation with this investigation within two weeks -- by August 17, 2010 -- the Department will file a Title VI civil action to compel access to the requested documents, facilities, and personnel."
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, law enforcement programs receiving federal assistance cannot discriminate on the basis of race or national origin, and those in charge of the programs promise to operate in accordance with all requirements.
Lawyers for Arpaio recently requested a conference with Justice Department officials to discuss the matter. A conference call was set up for Aug. 17, the day of the deadline, but then both sides agreed to an in-person meeting a week later, according to the Justice Department official. On Monday, the day before the deadline, Justice Department lawyers decided to make no decisions about further action until the in-person meeting, the official said.
The Justice Department launched its investigation in March 2009, telling Arpaio in letters at the time that the "investigation will focus on alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, and on allegations of national origin discrimination, including failure to provide meaningful access to MCSO services for limited English proficient individuals." In addition, the Justice Department said, the investigation will look at allegations that Maricopa County Sheriff's Office "has an English-only policy in its jails," including a requirement that even bilingual detention officers "speak to inmates in English at all times, except in case of an emergency."
While Arpaio's office subsequently provided some documents, it has largely refused to meet the Justice Department's requests. Arpaio has criticized the investigation as politically motivated.
Still, two days after Perez sent his letter threatening to sue Arpaio, the sheriff's lawyers insisted Arpaio "has made good faith efforts to cooperate with the Division's Title VI investigation."
"Furthermore, [the office] stands ready and willing to meet and confer with the Division to address any concerns that the Division might have with regard to [their] cooperation and production of documents related to the investigation of the complaint that forms the basis of the Title VI investigation," attorney Robert Driscoll wrote.
Arpaio's lawyers argue that their client is legally required to cooperate with a "limited portion" of the Justice Department's investigation, the portion looking at "allegations of national origin discrimination." But, they say, Arpaio is not obligated to comply with requests not covered by Title VI, particularly requests related to "alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office."
Meanwhile, a grand jury in Phoenix is looking into separate matters related to Arpaio's tenure as sheriff.
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Article printed from Liveshots: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com
URL to article: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/17/doj-holds-off-on-suing-arpaio-for-now/
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By Mike Levine
On August 17, 2010 @ 6:45 PM In Immigration
According to a Justice Department official, things are on hold pending a meeting set for next Tuesday in Washington with Justice Department officials and lawyers for Arpaio, whose office is under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged civil rights violations. Arpaio has become a controversial figure over what some say are overly aggressive tactics to fight illegal immigration in Arizona.
In a letter dated Aug. 3, the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Tom Perez, accused Arpaio of failing to cooperate with the department's investigation, warning that, "Absent [your office's] voluntary cooperation with this investigation within two weeks -- by August 17, 2010 -- the Department will file a Title VI civil action to compel access to the requested documents, facilities, and personnel."
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, law enforcement programs receiving federal assistance cannot discriminate on the basis of race or national origin, and those in charge of the programs promise to operate in accordance with all requirements.
Lawyers for Arpaio recently requested a conference with Justice Department officials to discuss the matter. A conference call was set up for Aug. 17, the day of the deadline, but then both sides agreed to an in-person meeting a week later, according to the Justice Department official. On Monday, the day before the deadline, Justice Department lawyers decided to make no decisions about further action until the in-person meeting, the official said.
The Justice Department launched its investigation in March 2009, telling Arpaio in letters at the time that the "investigation will focus on alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, and on allegations of national origin discrimination, including failure to provide meaningful access to MCSO services for limited English proficient individuals." In addition, the Justice Department said, the investigation will look at allegations that Maricopa County Sheriff's Office "has an English-only policy in its jails," including a requirement that even bilingual detention officers "speak to inmates in English at all times, except in case of an emergency."
While Arpaio's office subsequently provided some documents, it has largely refused to meet the Justice Department's requests. Arpaio has criticized the investigation as politically motivated.
Still, two days after Perez sent his letter threatening to sue Arpaio, the sheriff's lawyers insisted Arpaio "has made good faith efforts to cooperate with the Division's Title VI investigation."
"Furthermore, [the office] stands ready and willing to meet and confer with the Division to address any concerns that the Division might have with regard to [their] cooperation and production of documents related to the investigation of the complaint that forms the basis of the Title VI investigation," attorney Robert Driscoll wrote.
Arpaio's lawyers argue that their client is legally required to cooperate with a "limited portion" of the Justice Department's investigation, the portion looking at "allegations of national origin discrimination." But, they say, Arpaio is not obligated to comply with requests not covered by Title VI, particularly requests related to "alleged patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office."
Meanwhile, a grand jury in Phoenix is looking into separate matters related to Arpaio's tenure as sheriff.
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Article printed from Liveshots: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com
URL to article: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/17/doj-holds-off-on-suing-arpaio-for-now/
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Brewer: Send Obama Birthday Cake that Tells the Truth! - Aug 3 letter to Supporters of Arizona
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To celebrate his 49th birthday, President Obama’s campaign would like you to sign his birthday card thanking him for all of his “accomplishments.”
We have a better idea. Send the President a birthday cake that tells the truth.
President Obama has failed to secure the border and instead has opted to sue the state of Arizona for doing the job the feds won’t do. He has declined a personal invitation to come to Arizona and see the border for himself. He has pushed a healthcare agenda that will cost the states billions of dollars and he has handed out corporate bailouts that help Wall Street, but do nothing for Main Street.
Happy Birthday Mr. President!
Gov. Jan Brewer campaign, Aug 3, 8:30pm
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