Man facing charges in assault on deputies

A man was arrested Wednesday after almost hitting two sheriff's deputies while attempting to flee from a traffic stop on Tucson's south side, officials said.

Deputies tried to pull over Michael Boulier, 33, at South Palo Verde Road and East 37th Street for a traffic violation around 5:40 p.m., Deputy Dawn Barkman, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said in a news release.

She said Boulier almost hit a deputy who was on a motorcycle; he also ran a red light.

Boulier allegedly hit his brakes to try to cause another motorcycle deputy to crash into him at South Palo Verde and East Gas roads, the release said.

Deputies found Boulier's abandoned vehicle at South Seventh Avenue and West Ajo Way, the release said.

He was found underneath a U-Haul truck and refused to come out from under the vehicle, the release said.

Boulier was bitten by a sheriff's dog before he was taken into custody, the release said.

Boulier told deputies he had a warrant out for his arrest, Barkman said.

He was booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and unlawful flight from law enforcement.

Veronica M. Cruz

Fire displaces family, kills 6 pet birds

A family of five was displaced when a fire broke out in their southwest-side apartment Thursday.

The fire was started by food left on the stove. It spread into the cabinets in the kitchen in the first-floor apartment at a complex in the 1700 block of West 36th Street, said Capt. Jeff Langejans, a Tucson fire spokesman.

The two adults and three children who live in the apartment were not home , he said. The family's two dogs were saved from the fire, but six pet birds died, Langejans said.

Veronica M. Cruz

Woman jumps from 2nd floor in fire

A woman was critically injured Thursday after she jumped from the second floor of her northwest-side home during a fire, authorities said.

Mountain Vista Fire District firefighters went to the home in the 2800 block of West Ribera Place, near North Shannon Road and West Lambert Lane, said Capt. Grant Cesarek, a Rural/Metro Fire Department spokesman.

Mountain Vista has a contract with Rural/Metro to provide fire service to the area.

When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke and flames coming from the roof of the home and bedroom window on the second floor, Cesarek said.

Bystanders directed them to the back of the home, where they found the woman, who had jumped from the second floor.

She was taken to the hospital for burn injuries, smoke inhalation and injuries suffered in the fall.

The woman was the only person at the home when firefighters arrived. The fire was caused by a match thrown in a trash can.

Jamar Younger

Man fatally shot by officers is ID'd

A man who was shot and killed by Tucson police last week during a confrontation at a west-side park has been identified as Michael Gale, 28.

Gale was shot Jan. 18 after he pointed a handgun toward two officers who found him in the park near North Riverside Avenue and West Sonora Street, police said at the time.

Tucson police had received reports of a shirtless man kicking fences in the area.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two officers who shot him were identified as Officers Benjamin Boschee and Colin Hyde.

They were not injured.

Jamar Younger