🌱 Phoenix Man Kidnaps Georgia Teen + Street Racing Incident Arrests

Good morning, neighbors. It's Friday in Phoenix and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening locally.

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But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and hot. High: 109 Low: 87.

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Here are the top three stories today in Phoenix:

1. 27-year-old Blane Patterson of Phoenix is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault, after allegedly abducting a 14-year-old Georgia girl he had been in contact with online. Law enforcement, with the help of the FBI, traced Patterson back to Phoenix using social media records and vehicle registration. While Patterson claims he took the teen to "rescue her" from abuse in her hometown, the victim refutes this, and court documents reveal Patterson admitting to several instances of sexual assault. (Arizona's Family)
2. Two individuals have been arrested in alleged street racing that led to the fatal striking of pedestrian Pedro Rodriguez near 35th Avenue and Washington Street on Aug. 7. The speeding black Chrysler, driven by 22-year-old Deandre Shakur Henry, lost control after hitting a railroad track at over 80 mph, subsequently hitting Rodriguez and another involved Chevrolet vehicle. Both Henry and the Chevrolet driver, 37-year-old Nathaniel James Meeks, are now facing second-degree murder charges. (Arizona's Family)
3. In Phoenix, the "Field of Dreams" children's baseball league, founded by Yvette Aguiniga and serving over 300 players from underserved communities, faces challenges with the City over new fees. Aguiniga claims that the city now seeks payment for lighting, fields, and a $10,000 insurance fee, despite a previous informal agreement allowing free usage of Alkire Park. In response, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department states they've maintained their commitment to waiving fees at Alkire Park until the end of 2023, and suggest that Field of Dreams could potentially qualify for a new grant program to offset costs for expanding to other parks. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)

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Today in and around Phoenix:

Friday, August 25

• Storytime Live At Kiddie Academy of North Phoenix, Glendale (5:00 PM)
• Summer Music Mashup Pool Party Series At FOUND:RE Phoenix (12:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Congratulations to Stephanie and Graham Freels, a couple from Washington who welcomed quintuplets at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix on Jun. 4. Both parents and their five newborns, Adelyn, Eliana, Linnea, Fisher, and Harper, are in good health and heading home. (Arizona's Family)
  
• Applications are open for the City of Phoenix's Community Mental Health Awareness & Safety Task Force! This community-led task force will be charged with examining Phoenix residents' mental health, wellness, and safety needs. Apply by Sep. 15. (City of Phoenix, AZ USA via Facebook)
• The City of Phoenix's Water Services Department is hiring an electrician! If you're interested, apply by Aug. 28 using Job ID 51019. (City of Phoenix Water Services Department via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.