Phil Jamison

ARIZONA OFFICER INTENTIONALLY HITS MAN WITH PATROL CAR

This is stunning video of an Arizona Police Officer hitting an armed man with his patrol car. The video has gone viral and sparked another debate about excessive force. The man is 36 year old Mario Valencia who was walking down the street with a loaded rifle firing the gun occasionally. An officer made a split decision to hit Valencia ending the incident. Valencia was injured but is expected to survive. According to a report on the CNN website, here is a timeline of events that lead to Valencia being hit.

Timeline of events

Tucson Police Sgt. Pete Dugan told CNN that Valencia was involved in several incidents in Tucson the day he was struck.

At 6:45 a.m., Valencia robbed a 7-Eleven in Tucson with a metal object in his hand. Authorities said he was dressed only in his underwear. He was charged with theft.

A little more than an hour later, police said, Valencia set a fire at a church for which he was charged with arson of an occupied structure.

Just after that he entered a home and stole a car, police said.

Authorities said he drove to a Walmart where he stole a .30-30 rifle and ammunition. He fled the store with Walmart employees in pursuit.

Police encountered him in a business park walking down the road. An officer told him several times to drop the rifle, Lt. Tim Brunenkant with the Marana Police Department said in an email containing a timeline of events.

Valencia, police said, walked away from the officer, turned a corner and stopped. Valencia pointed the rifle at the officer then walked away again toward a Coca-Cola bottling plant and another business.

“As Mario Valencia briskly walked towards Sargent Controls (local manufacturer), Officer Michael Rapiejko uses his marked police car to stop the dangerous situation Mario Valencia created,” Brunenkant wrote.

Brunenkant also said by phone that before Rapiejko’s encounter with Valencia, the suspect had pointed the rifle at his head multiple times and threatened suicide before fleeing.

This Week in Jonesboro

Music News

16 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Miguel’s ‘CAOS,’ fueled by anger and angst, is his first studio album in nearly a decade

If you wondered why Miguel didn't release a studio album for nearly a decade, his response is simple: life.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Taylor Swift, LL Cool J, Kenny Loggins and David Byrne are among Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees

Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, LL Cool J, Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Talking Heads' David Byrne are among the impressive list of nominees for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class, an eclectic mix of pop, hip-hop, folk and rock innovators.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Bon Jovi is hitting the road. Band announces first tour since Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal cord surgery

Decades into his career and the unthinkable happened. It was 2022, and Jon Bon Jovi began struggling through his songs. He saw a doctor who said one of his vocal cords was atrophying. He needed major surgery.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

MusiCares names Mariah Carey its 2026 Person of the Year

MusiCares, an organization that helps music professionals who need financial, personal or medical assistance, will honor Mariah Carey as its 2026 Person of the Year.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss, who captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar, died Thursday. He was 74.