State Glance

Pima County Sheriff calls for state investigation into misuse of federal funds

TUCSON — After a former Pima County Sheriff’s official revealed in federal court that a criminal conspiracy to misuse federal funds had been going on for about 20 years, the current sheriff is asking the state to step in and conduct a second investigation.

Former Chief Deputy Christopher Radtke was indicted last year on several felony counts of conspiracy to launder money and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. In February, Radtke accepted a plea agreement for three misdemeanor counts of theft of federal funds and was sentenced in May to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $3,000 in fines.

Sheriff Mark Napier said that after the sentencing, a number of employees in the department and community members expressed concern over what they saw as a lenient sentence, leading him to request the state investigation.

Body found in Tempe Town Lake

TEMPE — Authorities found a man’s body in Tempe Town Lake.

The Tempe Police Department responded Saturday to a call reporting something suspicious in the water.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the man’s death.

Police: Man aiming car at police fatally shot by officer

PHOENIX — Police say a motorist near downtown Phoenix was fatally shot by an officer after the man aimed his car at police approaching him on foot and accelerated toward them.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Alan Pfohl said officers had stopped the man around 10 p.m. Friday for an invalid license plate but he sped off. Pfohl said officers on patrol later noticed the car parked with its lights off.

He said that when they approached, the driver sped off then lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. Pfohl said that’s when two officers on foot approached the car, it accelerated toward them and one officer fired his weapon.

Police haven’t yet identified the suspect. Investigators also didn’t know why he fled. The officer’s name wasn’t immediately released.