AZ- DOC: Mistake Let Rapist Terrorize Girls

GPS units simply do not work, especially if you forget to turn them on!

8-16-2009 Arizona:

Ryan: 'It Was A Human Error' That Allowed Parolee To Ditch Ankle Monitor

PHOENIX -- “It was a human error on the part of our staff,” Director Charles Ryan told CBS 5 Friday.

Ryan said officers strapped a Pro Tech monitor to Salvador Medina’s ankle on Aug. 6, but failed to turn on the tracking device.

“The mistake that I'm aware that our officers made was the failure of activating the device,” Ryan said.

Police say Medina went on a crime spree after being released from the 16th Street parole office in Phoenix at noon.

Police said he kidnapped three sisters, ages 15, 15, and 11 at about 4:15 p.m.

Police said he held the victims under the threat of killing the 11-year-old girl if any of them tried to escape, and sexually assaulted both 15-year-old girls.

Police said at about 9:15 p.m., Medina approached two women with a 3-year-old child. Investigators said he asked them for money and put a knife to the abdomen of one of the women when she refused.

“I would probably say to the victims I'm sorry that you have been victimized by this individual,” Ryan said.

Ryan said even if the Pro Tech monitor was on, it could have been hours before anyone started looking for Medina.

"I don't know that would prevent the crime from occurring. All it would tell us if the last known whereabouts of the individual,” Ryan said.

The alert that should have been sent out would have been received by Medina’s parole officer, who is in the office until 5 or 6 p.m. each evening.

If Medina removed the monitor after the officer had left for the day, no one would have been notified until the next morning.

Ryan says parole officers will now test ankle monitors to make sure they have been activated.

He also said DOC’s communication center, which is monitored 24/7, will immediately receive an alert when a sex offender tampers with or removes their ankle bracelet.

Ryan would not say if the officer or officers who failed to activate Medina’s monitor will be fired, but said he plans to hold whoever is responsible accountable. ..Source.. by Sarah Buduson, Reporter, KPHO.com