Double Secret Probation IV

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Legend has it Henok is an immigrant from Ethiopia.  He has been on the east side of Tucson for the last couple of years as a member of the drug addicted homeless community.  His drugs of choice are fentanyl and methamphetamine.  

In or around March or April of 2024, Henok decided that an east side convenience store was his new bathroom and kitchen.  On several occasions, Henok would enter the store, select several items that were displayed for sale, and then just walk out.  This happened several times.  The store manager contacted a Tucson Police Officer and advised him of this series of shoplifting incidents and she provided him with surveillance photos of the suspect.  

After some time, Henok was caught by this officer just after one of his "kitchen runs."  

Henok was arrested for shoplifting and unlawful possession of narcotic paraphernalia (after a search incident to arrest revealed the cut straw he used to smoke fentanyl).  He was transported to the Pima County Jail.  Henok was officially trespassed from this location and he was advised that he would be arrested if he returned to any part of the property.  Henok stated he understood and he would not return.  

Shockingly, Henok turned out to NOT be a man of his word and he continued to return to this location several times.  Each time Henok returned to the location, the staff members would advise this officer and provide surveillance photos of the incident.  The officer would then create a case report documenting the crime, upload the surveillance photo, and issue a "stop and arrest" for Henok.  

On many occasions, after Henok was arrested, this officer would request an "area restriction."  What that means is the officer was asking the court to restrict Henok from returning to this location.  If granted, an area restriction would allow officers to arrest Henok for contempt of court in addition to criminal trespassing IF he were to return to this location.  Think of it like a punishment enhancement.

The employees at this business, like most of the residents and businesses in Tucson, grew frustrated with the lack of enforcement by all levels of local law enforcement (to include the jail and the courts).  The manager stated multiple times that the morale in her store took a hit every single time a member of Tucson's drug addicted homeless community acted with such disregard for our laws.

Henok's arrests added up.  On 12/25/2024, Henok was located by the same pesky officer.  A record check showed Henok had 14 (!) outstanding misdemeanor warrants issued by the Tucson City Court, as well as 2 outstanding stop and arrests reference 2 recent kitchen runs.  Grinch Mode was activated and Henok was transported to the Pima County Jail where he was booked.

Henok's initial bond was $4,082 and the arresting officer sheepishly believed the jail and the courts would do the right thing and keep this persistent criminal locked up for a while.  More jail time would also give Henok time to purge the fentanyl and methamphetamine from his body and he could potentially have a fair shot at sobriety.  

But then...