Police say Waring is just an ordinary victim of crime

Quite the caper ... Phoenix Councilman Jim Waring had a pair of $300 prescription sunglasses stolen while he was in the men’s room of a Phoenix Public Library branch. And the police seem to have followed more leads than in a Hardy Boys novel. We’ll call it “The Mystery of the Boys’ Room Bandit.”

According to a Phoenix police report acquired by The Arizona Republic, Waring’s sunglasses were stolen at 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 3. About 45 minutes later, an officer, a sergeant and a lieutenant responded to the library.

Police tracked down library surveillance video and saw that only one man walked out of the bathroom during the time Waring was in there, and he then quickly left the Mesquite branch near Paradise Valley Mall.

The man was described in the police report as having gray hair and wearing a “desirable hip pack (better known as a fanny pack).”

Waring emerged from the bathroom “in a surprised state” a short time later, according to the report.

Police interviewed Waring, library staff and a political-petition gatherer who usually is outside this branch. All said the thief was not a library regular.

Investigators then sussed out additional surveillance video from the adjacent mall, which showed the thief walking to a parking garage.

A car left the mall parking structure about a minute later.

Police tracked down the driver at his Phoenix home via a license plate. It wasn’t the thief; the man was too tall. But that wasn’t the end of it. The thief left a camouflage cap behind at the library. Police sent it in for DNA testing. No arrest has yet occurred. In the meantime, Warning and police responded to questions about how this investigation compares to the more than 37,500 property crimes reported to city authorities last year.

Waring via email told The Arizona Republic on Wednesday that he called the police to report the theft, “as they request of every citizen.” He deferred questions to the Phoenix Police Department.

Sgt. Jonathan Howard said he doesn’t believe Waring got special treatment.

“I don’t think he got exceptional service. I think he got good service. But I don’t think that’s so unusual,” he said. “At the end of the day, he’s a victim of a crime. He has a responsibility and a right to report that to us.”

Howard said Waring does not have control over how the case was investigated. He said officers go where the evidence leads them.

Howard said the hat — and any evidence in a similar crime — was submitted as a lower priority to the crime lab.

“It’s not like we’re going to push aside a homicide or a sexual assault and say, ‘Test the hat,’ ” he said. “It might be there for a year, or it might be there in perpetuity. If and when that gets processed, that may lead us to to something else.”

Stay tuned, dear readers. There’s still hope for a final chapter.

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The internet strikes again ...The Arizona Republican Party was called out Tuesday for the cringe-worthy use of a photo on their website showing comic

Margaret Cho and her sitcom family from a 1990s TV show to represent Asian-American diversity.

To make matters worse, the photo in question — a promotional image from Cho’s 1994-1995 ABC prime-time sitcom “All-American Girl” — is also the first result in Google if you search “Asian American” in images.

VICE News first reported the use of the image by the AZGOP.

“As soon as this was brought to our attention the page was taken down. This is obviously a mistake and we apologize,” Arizona GOP spokesperson Torunn Sinclair told The Arizona Republic Tuesday. She added the state’s GOP website is undergoing a complete redesign.

More than two decades after that show aired, Cho is now a host on E’s “Fashion Police” — and she supported

Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

“Well maybe now people will start watching!” Cho posted on Facebook after learning about the flub Wednesday. She later said in a statement that the party “got some bad information and ran with it. They deserve a dodgeball to the face.”

Cho, who is openly bisexual and whose comedy routines often include raunchy sexual material, also retweeted former cast mate and gay actor B.D.

Wong, who joked: “They had no idea that at least two people in that photo were depraved sexual deviants.”

On the GOP’s website, the photo was accompanied by an introduction on the “People” page that featured a breakdown of several ethnic groups and read, in part:

“As a political party, Republicans offer a universally appealing perspective on the proper role of government — one based on a genuine recognition of individual equality, fairness, and justice for all. We believe it is unfair to demand special rights for certain races, push policies that favor members of one group over another, or single out certain ethnic or social groups with the promise of special favors or political privileges.”

Praise for the police ... While progressive groups and activists panned the Phoenix Police Department this week, Republicans in the state Legislature were vocal cheerleaders for the police. At least five GOP lawmakers released public statements patting the department on the back for its response in the wake of protests outside President Donald Trump‘s rally in downtown Phoenix. “I would especially like to thank Phoenix PD and all of its officers for keeping the peace in the presence of numerous angry protesters and agitators, which ensured this great event remained free from vandalism and violence,” Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, said in a statement.

Critics said the department wrongly gassed and pepper sprayed numerous peaceful protesters without warning.

Police Chief Jeri Williams said officers only responded with force after a small group of protesters threw rocks, water bottles and gas canisters at them — the incident is now the subject of a city investigation.

But just in case Phoenix’s brass needed a second opinion, a group of state legislators released a joint statement in support of Williams.

“From three women leaders to another, thanks for keeping our community safe,” Sen. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, wrote in the statement that also included praises from Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, and Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa. » Quote of the week

“Be it known that this day, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, pursuant to my powers under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, of the Constitution, have granted unto Joseph M. Arpaio a full and unconditional pardon..” — President Donald Trump, pardoning former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio Friday. Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of a federal court.

Compiled by Republic reporters Dustin Gardiner, Garrett Mitchell, Alia Beard Rau and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez. Get the latest at politics.azcentral.com.