Man allegedly robbed restaurant, sexually assaulted female employee

Police Seek 3 New Employees
Grant for telecommunications officers, crime analyst and acquisition of computer software
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction Police Department will seek the City Council’s approval Tuesday, April 21, to apply for two telecommunications officers, a crime analyst and acquisition of computer software to support the organization via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Competitive Grant Program.
   While the Byrne Competitive Grant Program does not mandate retention of personnel hired with grant dollars, an application must articulate a strategy for retaining the position after grant funding ends in two years, Police Chief Jerald Monahan wrote in a memo dated April 9 to Mayor John Insalaco and the City Council. Without such a strategy, an application would not be competitive.
   The grant application is due April 27.
 “The police telecommunications officers (PTOs) are needed for a variety of reasons, but mainly the timely receipt of incoming emergency calls and, in turn, the immediate dispatch to the officer for response,” Monahan wrote in the memo.
   The lack of PTOs, he said, jeopardizes the public as well as the City’s officers.
  “The PTO serves as the lifeline in all emergency calls,” he wrote. “Currently the Communications Center is understaffed. At times, it is not uncommon to have just one dispatcher on duty. If more than one significant event should occur at one of these understaffed times, it could be the difference between life and death.”

See A-1 and see Police Grant, A-6

AJ Police Shoot Robber
Texas parolee charged with robbing Pizza Hut employees
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
 A Texas parolee will be charged with armed robbery, misconduct with a weapon, kidnapping and aggravated assault in connection with an armed robbery of Pizza Hut, 240 S. Phelps Road, at approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday, April 11.
   The man, tentatively identified as Brian Bridges, was positively identified as Jimmy James Mamoth, 39, according to Police Chief Jerald Monahan.
   Mamoth allegedly forced entry into the restaurant as the staff was closing for the evening and, at gun point, ordered the staff to get down on the floor where he hand tied some of the employees as he demanded money.
   As the suspect attempted to flee out of the north side of the restaurant, he was encountered by Apache Junction Police Department officers. Mamoth then retreated into the restaurant and attempted to flee out of the south doorway. Mamoth was then again encountered by officers and wounded by a single gunshot to the leg. The officer, whom Capt. Tom Kelly said the department would not name, was placed on administrative leave.
   Mamoth’s injuries were isolated to the left upper leg/hip area, Monahan said in a press release. He was subsequently airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.
   Mamoth underwent surgery and was expected to be released to law enforcement over the weekend, according to Kelly. Mamoth, who has been under guard since the shooting, was set to be arrested upon discharge, Kelly said.
   The Apache Junction Police Department Division of Criminal Investigation (CID) discovered, through the Texas parole authorities, that Mamoth is on parole in Texas. Texas parole, in cooperation with AJ CID, has issued a nobond warrant for his arrest.

AJHS Baseball Heads To Chase Field
Will take on Glendale Independence this Wednesday where ‘the big boys play;’
AJHS also upsets Saguaro, 4-1
By Chuck Baker
The News
Imagine you are left-handed hitting Nathan Higginbottom, the leadoff batter for the Apache Junction Prospectors, standing in the same batter’s box where Luis Gonzalez stood when he hit that now-famous bloop single off of New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to score Jay Bell from third base with the winning run of game seven of the 2001 World Series, giving the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks a 3-2 victory and their first World Series title.
   That once in a lifetime opportunity is coming for “Higgy” and about a dozen of his Prospector teammates when they venture inside Chase Field this Wednesday, April 22, to take on the Glendale Independence Patriots at the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The game is tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m. or 45 minutes after the conclusion of the D-Backs vs. Colorado Rockies game which is slated to start at 12:40 p.m.
   Prior to last Tuesday’s home game against Scottsdale Saguaro, Higgy reflected on the opportunity to play at Chase Field. He says he remembers watching the 2001 World Series and has even thought about stepping into the same batter’s box as Gonzalez. But when asked if we would like to duplicate Gonzo’s bloop single, he says no.
   “I’d rather hit one like Richie Sexson—a homerun off the scoreboard,” referring to the now-famous Jumbotron-shattering blast Sexson hit on April 26, 2004, while playing for Arizona.

See B-1 and see Chase, B-6

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