AZ- DOC Admits Problem With Ankle Monitor

8-11-2009 Arizona:

PHOENIX -- Department of Corrections officials say they were never alerted a convicted sex offender had removed his ankle monitor.

Police say Salvador Medina went on a crime spree last Thursday that included rape, robbery and kidnapping after removing the tracking device.

He was captured after he called police to request help.

The convicted sex offender had been released from prison that day. By 4 p.m. police say he had taken off the Pro Tech Monitoring anklle bracelet.

Corrections officials are supposed to be notified immediately when there is any problem with the devices.

"In my case, typically we receive a notification that somebody's tampered with their ankle or removed within 30 seconds or a minute,” Chuck Thomas said.

He runs Probationary Monitoring Services of Arizona, which monitors some DOC parolees for the state.

He said an alert will not be sent if a monitor has a dead battery or is out of range of cell phone service.

However, Thomas said officials are usually immediately notified if the tracking device is not working properly.

“Yes, you can get out of them,” he said. “But not without somebody knowing about it in some way shape or form.”

DOC officials have refused repeated interviews requests, but said in an e-mail response that they are investigating why an alert was not sent.

Pro Tech Monitoring, which manufactured the monitor Medina was wearing, was not available for comment Monday evening. ..Source.. by Sarah Buduson, Reporter, KPHO.com