Published: 01.26.2007
Tips from neighbors lead to Midvale Park drug bust
RYN GARGULINSKI
Tucson Citizen
Tucson police seized guns, drugs, money and drug paraphernalia after a search of a Midvale Park home Wednesday, officials said.
Two illegal immigrants were in the home in the 1900 block of West Nava Drive at the time of the search, Tucson police Sgt. Decio Hopffer said. One was the tenant and the other was a visitor. Both men are in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.
''No arrests have been made at this time, but that doesn't mean no arrests will be made,'' Hopffer said.
Police used a search warrant to enter the home and found an assault rifle, a shotgun, a rifle, a quarter-pound of marijuana, a money counter, plastic wrapping materials and $11,500, Hopffer said.
Police said they are investigating whether the incident is linked to the Jan. 10 arrest of a man cruising through Midvale Park with guns, handcuffs, a ski mask and weapons, or to the area's recent spurt of home invasions.
The home invasions were:
???œ Nov. 28 at a group home for the mentally ill. Invaders burst into the home in the 1400 block of West Nevins Drive and shot to death a man in the home before fleeing.
???œ Dec. 27. Invaders burst into a home in the 1600 block of West Maplewood Drive, robbing those inside. There were no injuries in what may have been a wrong-house raid, police said.
???œ Jan. 2. Invaders matching the descriptions of those in the Dec. 27 case entered a home about two doors down on Maplewood, firing shots in a morning raid. No one was injured.
???œ Jan. 2. A fourth home invasion about two miles southwest of Midvale Park in an unincorporated area turned deadly after a resident shot two of six home invaders, killing one of them.
Wednesday's seizure was helped by Midvale residents who tipped off police about suspicious activity at the Nava Drive house, Hopffer said.
''Enough was enough,'' said Midvale Park Neighborhood Association president Joseph Miller. ''We felt we wanted to be a partner with the police in finding a solution.''
The next Midvale Park Neighborhood Association meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Grijalva Elementary School, 1795 W. Drexel Road.
By RYN GARGULINSKI
Tips from neighbors lead to Midvale Park drug bust
RYN GARGULINSKI
Tucson Citizen
Tucson police seized guns, drugs, money and drug paraphernalia after a search of a Midvale Park home Wednesday, officials said.
Two illegal immigrants were in the home in the 1900 block of West Nava Drive at the time of the search, Tucson police Sgt. Decio Hopffer said. One was the tenant and the other was a visitor. Both men are in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.
''No arrests have been made at this time, but that doesn't mean no arrests will be made,'' Hopffer said.
Police used a search warrant to enter the home and found an assault rifle, a shotgun, a rifle, a quarter-pound of marijuana, a money counter, plastic wrapping materials and $11,500, Hopffer said.
Police said they are investigating whether the incident is linked to the Jan. 10 arrest of a man cruising through Midvale Park with guns, handcuffs, a ski mask and weapons, or to the area's recent spurt of home invasions.
The home invasions were:
???œ Nov. 28 at a group home for the mentally ill. Invaders burst into the home in the 1400 block of West Nevins Drive and shot to death a man in the home before fleeing.
???œ Dec. 27. Invaders burst into a home in the 1600 block of West Maplewood Drive, robbing those inside. There were no injuries in what may have been a wrong-house raid, police said.
???œ Jan. 2. Invaders matching the descriptions of those in the Dec. 27 case entered a home about two doors down on Maplewood, firing shots in a morning raid. No one was injured.
???œ Jan. 2. A fourth home invasion about two miles southwest of Midvale Park in an unincorporated area turned deadly after a resident shot two of six home invaders, killing one of them.
Wednesday's seizure was helped by Midvale residents who tipped off police about suspicious activity at the Nava Drive house, Hopffer said.
''Enough was enough,'' said Midvale Park Neighborhood Association president Joseph Miller. ''We felt we wanted to be a partner with the police in finding a solution.''
The next Midvale Park Neighborhood Association meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Grijalva Elementary School, 1795 W. Drexel Road.
By RYN GARGULINSKI
