Prosecutors: Surgeon accused of narcotics and forgery charges

Authorities: Remains confirmed to be those of missing teacher

FLAGSTAFF - Police in Flagstaff say they have verified the identity of an Arizona teacher after finding her body last week on private property in Mayer.

Flagstaff police spokesman Cory Runge says the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the remains of Cathryn Gorospe using dental records.

The 44-year-old teacher went missing after posting bond for 27-year-old Charlie Malzahn on Oct. 6.

Authorities have classified the case as a homicide.

Runge has said Malzahn gave details and directions that narrowed investigators search for Gorospe’s body.

A bail bondsman said he tried to talk Gorospe out of putting up cash for Malzahn multiple times before she did and later went missing.

The bail bondsman said Gorospe told him she went on dates with Malzahn and the teacher later said she loved him.

Police identify, arrest suspect in 2012 attempted armed robbery

COTTONWOOD - It took more than five years, but Cottonwood police have a suspect in an attempted armed robbery thanks to DNA analysis.

Police say 32-year-old Wesley Michael Robert Smith Jr. was arrested Wednesday.

Smith was located at the Yavapai County Detention Center, where he’s in custody on unrelated charges.

Police say a man wearing a hooded mask and carrying a wooden club tried to rob a Cottonwood business in September 2012.

A struggle ensued between an employee and the suspect and the victim was able to disarm the man and remove his mask.

The suspect fled on foot without getting any money.

The club and mask were sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety crime lab for analysis.

Earlier this week, police say DNA results confirm Smith as the suspect.

Man killed in exchange of gunfire with Tucson police

TUCSON - A man was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Tucson police officers who responded to a report of a shooting stemming from an altercation involving several people.

Police say the man was one of three people involved in the earlier incident Wednesday night in which shots were fired.

They identified the man Thursday as 35-year-old Daniel Spear.

Police say the man ran away as officers arrived, but was found at a nearby car wash where the exchange of gunfire occurred.

A second person drove off after the original incident, but was later located elsewhere and detained.

Police say the man was released without charges.

Police say four officers fired their weapons in the incident. They say no officers were injured.

GLOBE - A surgeon in Globe has been indicted in a prescription-forgery case.

State prosecutors say 40-year-old Jamison Mark Foster is accused of 30 felony charges including acquisition of narcotic and dangerous drugs by fraud, fraudulent schemes, forgery and identity theft.

Foster allegedly forged the signature of a Phoenix doctor to obtain opioids for his personal use.

Authorities say Foster previously had been employed by the victim’s doctor.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office began an investigation five months ago when Foster allegedly attempted to fill a forged prescription for Oxycodone at a Globe pharmacy.

The pharmacist became suspicious and notified authorities.

Investigators contacted the victim’s doctor and discovered she had not authorized the 71 prescriptions that Foster allegedly filled at pharmacies across the state from June 2016 to May 2017.

Officials seek input on ski area permit after ownership change

WILLIAMS - Kaibab National Forest officials are seeking public input on issuing a new permit for Elk Ridge Ski Area due to an ownership change and say changes could be in the works for the ski area on Bill Williams Mountain near Williams later on.

Forest officials say a new permit would reflect that Elk Ridge is being purchased by Arizona Snowbowl near Flagstaff.

Officials say issuance of the new permit based on the ownership change would merely allow Arizona Snowbowl to take over operations of Elk Ridge starting this winter but also set the stage for Arizona Snowbowl to propose updates to Elk Ridge’s master plan.

Elk Ridge encompasses 37 acres. Its current permit authorizes public operation of the ski area from November through April for downhill skiing and tubing. — Associated Press