State Glance

Maricopa officers to shoot GPS trackers onto fleeing cars

MARICOPA — The Maricopa Police Department has installed new equipment that allows officers to shoot GPS trackers onto fleeing vehicles.

The Casa Grande Dispatch reports the GPS technology is lodged inside a canister, manufactured by StarChase, that is shot from the front of a patrol car and then sticks to the vehicle being pursued through magnets and a sticky adhesive.

Four of the department’s patrol cars have been equipped with StarChase equipment and officers will begin training with them early next year.

StarChase has said in previous statements that warrants are not needed because officers only use their trackers in situations where they have probable cause to follow the vehicle. The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement in 2014 approving the use of StarChase trackers only in cases where officers have probable cause to pursue a suspect.

Lawyer: Firing of police sergeant tied to social media posts

AVONDALE— A police sergeant for a Phoenix suburb is out of a job at least in part because of his posts on social media.

Susan Segal, an attorney representing the city of Avondale, said Sgt. Sean Maas was fired in part because of racially insensitive Facebook posts.

Azfamily.com reports that a couple with whom Maas were in business together say at least one of the posts by Maas targeted them because the man is black and the woman is part Hispanic.

According to Erica and Reginald Sayles, Maas took to social media after the couples had a falling out.

Maas is appealing his termination.

Police ask for help in tracking suspicious explosions

PHOENIX — Phoenix police say they’re looking for a white pickup truck that may be connected to a string of what is being described as unexplained explosions.

Police say they got numerous calls about explosive sounds in northwest Phoenix between October and December. Detectives who have investigated some of those calls have found materials, eyewitnesses or even surveillance footage showing explosions.

But they’re coming up short on who is doing this and why. Police haven’t reported any injuries.