Pay for getting fired due to vaccine mandate, drug and gun investigation at car shop: this week's top stories
Photo collage: (Top left) A Fort Mohave McDonald's sign toppled over onto someone's car because of high winds. (Top right) Waste Management is looking to hire truck drivers in Arizona. (Bottom left) A teen girl is seen on video captured by her aunt b
During the first week of February, many FOX 10 viewers took an interest in a bill that would, if passed, require employers to offer a new job, or financial compensation to those they fired for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This week, there were fewer top crime stories and more top stories about jobs and money – or a mix of all three.
1. Employees fired for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine to be compensated financially if Arizona bill becomes law: This means the bill to protect those who refused to get the vaccine under any exemption, medical, religious, or other qualifying circumstances, will move on to the next round. If it becomes law, it would require employers to pay former employees' severance, or rehire them, if they were fired for not following a vaccine mandate.
Employees fired for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine to be compensated financially if Arizona bill passes
A measure aiming to protect workers fired from their jobs for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine cleared its first hurdle in the Arizona House on Feb. 1.
2. 3 arrested in Avondale drug bust after 35K fentanyl pills, $300K in cash seized: Nearly 35,000 fentanyl pills, $300,000 in cash, and a number of vehicles and guns were seized during the investigation, according to Avondale Police. Officers arrested Aaron Camacho, Samantha Perry and Jose Arvayo for allegedly distributing the pills.
3 accused of distributing fentanyl in Avondale narcotics investigation
Avondale police have arrested three people suspected of distributing fentanyl pills across the west Valley.
3. DEA seizes meth, fake pills, guns from Phoenix used car dealership; 3 men arrested: "Investigators seized approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 4,000 M30 pills suspected to contain fentanyl, 14 firearms, and two vehicles," the DEA said in a news release.
3 people accused of dealing drugs after meth, fake pills were found at Phoenix auto shop
According to officials with the DEA, about 20 pounds of meth and 4,000 pills suspected to contain fentanyl were seized. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.
4. Tempe Home Depot employee replaced nearly $400k in real money with counterfeit currency: Secret Service: The suspect, identified as Adrian Jean Pineda, was once a vault associate at the store near I-10 and Baseline. His job was to count deposits from registers at the store, and then transfer the cash to a bank.
Arizona man accused of replacing real dollar bills with fakes at Home Depot
Adrian Jean Pineda, a vault associate at a Home Depot store in Tempe, was arrested on Jan. 31 and is accused of taking cash from the store's deposits and replacing it with counterfeit bills. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.
5. High winds knock down McDonald's sign onto car in western Arizona: "High winds in Fort Mohave caused this fast food sign at the corner of Highway 95 and Aztec Rd. to blow over and land on a customer's vehicle," the sheriff's office said. Thankfully, no one was inside the vehicle.
High winds knock down McDonald's sign onto car in western Arizona
"High winds in Fort Mohave caused this fast food sign at the corner of Highway 95 and Aztec Rd. to blow over and land on a customer's vehicle," the sheriff's office said.
6. Florida boy hauls in two .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifles on fishing trip: "We ended up with two pounds of scrap metal and 40 pounds of gun."
Courtesy: Duane Smith
7. Officer seen hitting girl multiple times on video – Phoenix Police say she struck first: Phoenix Police are investigating an incident caught on camera stemming from a stolen car investigation showing an officer punching a girl several times on Jan. 31. Body camera footage was released less than a day later by the department, giving a view of both sides to the story.
Phoenix Police release statement on incident of teen being struck by officer during investigation
"The Phoenix Police Department is aware of a cell phone video circulating that depicts a moment in time of an event. In an effort to share the facts, we are releasing some of the body worn camera to provide more context," Sgt. Justus said in Feb. 1 email, in part. Detailing what led up to the video being recorded, police say a caller reported to police that they were following their car that had previously been reported stolen. Officers found the car with several people inside, as previously stated.
8. Blood droplets, bullet holes: Chandler police investigate possible domestic violence incident: Officers were led to a possible crime scene in Chandler after getting reports of a shooting, then seeing droplets of blood near the front door of a home.
3 detained after shots fired at Chandler home: police
"Our tactical unit arrived and contact was made with 3 subjects, a female and two males, who were detained by police. No one was found to have sustained gunshot wounds, although it appeared 2 subjects had minor injuries. We also located bullet holes inside the home," Sgt. Jason McClimans?said.
9. Now hiring: Waste Management needs drivers in Arizona: The facility has a two-week training program. The first week is a virtual training where drivers learn the rules and the WM safety defensive driving system. The second week is where they go on the job and learn how to perform pre-trip inspections, brake tests and how to perform hazardous energy control at the landfill.
Taking a Waste Management truck driving course
FOX 10's Ty Brennan gets a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a truck driver for Waste Management.
10. Mother of 5 dies after falling off party bus days before her 30th birthday: She was celebrating with her friends in downtown Los Angeles when she accidentally fell to her death on the 101 Freeway. The California Highway Patrol responded to the incident a little before 3 a.m.
