State glance
3 injured in gas explosion at airport business
MESA — Authorities say three employees of a manufacturing business at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport were injured in an explosion involving compressed natural gas that was being transferred through a hose for testing.
Deputy Fire Chief Forrest Smith says something went wrong, causing the Wednesday morning explosion in an outdoor receiving and holding area at Alcor Energy.
Smith says one employee was hospitalized in stable condition with blunt force trauma injuries that aren’t life-threatening. He says two other workers had minor injuries.
Smith says the incident didn’t significantly impact airport operations though one departing aircraft paused briefly after the crew and passengers felt a tremor from the blast.
Phoenix Fire Dept.: Crash leaves 3 extremely critical
PHOENIX — Authorities say three people are in extremely critical condition following a crash at a northwest Phoenix intersection.
The crash occurred late Wednesday morning at North 67th Avenue and West Thomas Road and involved at least two vehicles.
Fire Capt. Jake Van Hook says initial reports indicate that the three people said to be in extremely critical condition are among five people being evaluated for medical treatment.
Authorities bust illegal $3.5 million pot grow operation
TONOPAH — Three people were arrested for an illegal $3.5 million marijuana grow operation in Arizona.
KTVK-TV/KPHO-TV reports Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area detectives simultaneously served search warrants last week at three separate locations in Tonopah.
The three locations were all linked to an illegal marijuana grow operation.
The seizures included more than 1,400 marijuana plants, 18 pounds of marijuana, guns, ammunition and grow equipment.
The total estimated street value is approximately $3.5 million.
All three suspects were booked on possession of marijuana for sale and producing marijuana.
Prison for Arizona man with opioid pills laced with Fentanyl
PHOENIX — Authorities say a man has been sentenced to three years in an Arizona prison for possession of 2,000 opioid pills laced with Fentanyl.
State prosecutors say Manuel Pulido-Cebreros was arrested last November during an opioid drug seizure operation.
They say Pulido-Cebreros was carrying approximately 1,000 pills laced with Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid drug approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
Authorities searched Pulido-Cebreros’ car and reported finding another 1,000 pills of the drug.
Pulido-Cebreros pleaded guilty last month to possessing the narcotic drug and admitted he was trying to sell the pills.