UPDATE: Man accused of shooting 2 Phoenix cops, killing 1, charged with murder; Prosecutors will seek death penalty

[Arheel's Uncle]

Man accused of shooting 2 Phoenix cops, killing 1, charged with murder

Suspect Saul Bal appeared in court for the second time as prosecutors charged him with murder after police officer Zane Coolidge was pronounced dead on Friday night. Bal is accused of shooting two officers on Sept. 3.

www.fox10phoenix.com

Man accused of shooting 2 Phoenix cops, killing 1, charged with murder​

By Tom Kuebel

Updated September 7, 2024 9:40pm MST

Man charged with murdering Phoenix Police Officer​

Saul Bal, 41, has been charged with murder after the death of Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge who passed away three days after being shot.

The Brief​

• • 41-year-old Saul Bal was charged with murder following the death of Phoenix Police officer Zane Coolidge on Friday night.
  • A judge upheld his $2 million bond.
  • Bal has a checkered criminal history and is accused of shooting two police officers on Tuesday, Sep. 3

PHOENIX - A judge upheld a cash bond of $2 million for Saul Bal, the convicted criminal accused of shooting two Phoenix Police officers and killing five-year veteran Zane Coolidge, 29, while Bal was out on parole.

Bal has been charged with first degree murder, along with multiple other charges.

Attorneys stated at Bal's initial court appearance that he is an extreme danger to the community.

 

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"40 ARRESTS IN 17 YEARS"
Info ^ picture from video news

 

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Police officer Zane Coolidge

Phoenix police officer dies after being shot in line of duty

Phoenix police officer Zane Coolidge has died after he was shot in the line of duty while responding to a break-in call near 16th St. & McDowell Rd.

www.azfamily.com

Phoenix police officer dies after being shot in line of duty​

Phoenix Police Chief gives remarks in 1-on-1 interview​

By Alexis Cortez, Peter Valencia and Lauren Kobley
Published: Sep. 6, 2024 at 4:45 PM MST|Updated: 8 hours ago

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Phoenix police officer has died just days after he was shot multiple times by a suspected car thief earlier this week.
Authorities confirmed Officer Zane Coolidge died from his injuries after spending three days in the hospital. Officer Coolidge was a five-year veteran of the department. He leaves behind a wife and baby girl.

Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge was shot in the line of duty while responding to a call.(Phoenix Police Department)
Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Department Commander Leif Myers joined Arizona’s Family on Saturday to follow up on the death of Officer Coolidge. Both of the men worked alongside Coolidge for years.
“It’s one of the hardest things ... seeing a baby girl out there without her father. It’s tough,” Meyers said. “We’ll pick up the shield for Zane. We will be there for his daughter. We’ll be there at graduations. We’ll be there at kindergarten ceremonies. We won’t let Zane’s memory die with him.”
The department is grieving the loss of the young father and colleague.
“I walked down the line last night. My message was take care of each other. Check in with each other. Make sure they’re doing okay,” Sullivan said. “It’s frustrating to us as a police department when this is somebody who shouldn’t even have been on the street.”
The procession for Ofc. Coolidge Friday night moved from Banner University Medical Center to the medical examiner’s office in downtown Phoenix.

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

Saul Bal: Prosecutors will seek death penalty against suspected killer of Phoenix officer

Prosecutors filed a notice of intent against 41-year-old Saul Bal, who's accused of shooting and killing Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge last year.

www.fox10phoenix.com

Saul Bal: Prosecutors will seek death penalty against suspected killer of Phoenix officer​

By Brent Corrado and FOX 10 Staff

Updated February 17, 2025 11:18am MST

Police Shootings

FOX 10 Phoenix

Death penalty sought against man accused of killing officer​

According to court documents, prosecutors filed a notice of intent against 41-year-old Saul Bal, who's accused of shooting and killing Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge last year.

The Brief​

• • Saul Bal, 41, is accused of shooting Phoenix PD Officers Zane Coolidge and Matthew Haney.
  • Officer Coolidge died days after the shooting. Officer Haney survived.
  • Bal is being held on a $2 million bond.

PHOENIX - A man accused of killing a Phoenix Police officer last year will face the death penalty.


Prosecutors filed a notice of intent last week against 41-year-old Saul Bal.


The backstory:

Bal is accused of shooting Officers Zane Coolidge and Matthew Haney last September near 15th Street and McDowell Road.


The two officers had responded to a call alleging a man was trying to break into a car. Police said the suspect, later identified as Bal, fled the scene before stopping and firing shots at both pursuing officers.


Coolidge, 29, died at a hospital three days later. Haney, 31, was protected from serious injury by his ballistic vest.


Bal pleaded not guilty to murder charges. He was indicted by a grand jury and remains jailed on a $2 million cash-only bond.

Saul Bal and Phoenix PD Officer Zane Coolidge

Dig deeper:


Bal has a lengthy criminal history and was on parole from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry at the time of the shootings.

 

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1831758456577257674

Suspect in shooting of 2 Phoenix Police officers has extensive criminal history​

By Justin Lum

Updated September 5, 2024 11:31am MST

Police officer shooting suspect has criminal past​

After police arrested the man who they say is responsible for shooting and injuring two Phoenix Police officers, we are learning that this is not the suspect's first run-in with the law. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has more on Saul Bal's criminal past.

The Brief​

• • Saul Bal, 41, was arrested in connection with a shooting that left two Phoenix Police officers injured.
  • A search reveals a rather long criminal past for Bal, having spent time in prison.

PHOENIX - We’re learning more about the extensive criminal history of Saul Bal, a 41-year-old man who was arrested in connection with a shooting that left two Phoenix Police officers hurt.


The shooting happened near 15th Street and McDowell Road on the evening of Sept. 3. Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the officers responded to a report of someone breaking into a car. When the two officers arrived, the suspect ran and jumped a fence. That's when the chief says his officers ran after the suspect, but were quickly met with gunfire.


"One of our officers was saved by his ballistic vest and is in stable condition. The second officer is currently fighting for his life in critical condition," the chief said.

Suspect has extensive criminal history​

Three mugshots of Saul Bal.

For Bal, the events on Sept. 3 were not the first time he had a run-in with the law, as we have uncovered records that stem back to 2008, spanning several counties.


Bal did prison time for charges of attempted burglary, unlawful use of means of transportation, disorderly conduct, and multiple drug crimes. He also served some time within the New Mexico Corrections Department, after being arrested in Riverside, Calif. in November 2023 on warrants that included being a fugitive out of state. He was released in February 2024.


Within Arizona, the crimes Bal committed happened within Navajo, Pinal, and Yuma Counties.


Besides his criminal history, we also found multiple mugshots for Bal. Excluding the most recent one that was taken as a result of the Tuesday shooting, there was also one from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, and one from the corrections department in New Mexico.


In court on Wednesday, the issue of Bal's criminal past was a topic.


"Your criminal history, which does appear to be extensive, and involve at least two prior allegations of violence against police officers," the presiding judge said, also noting that Bal's criminal history has ties to California.


Prosecutors also note other aspects of Bal's criminal past.


"He is on parole from the Arizona Department of Corrections, and a prohibited possessor," said Josh Maxwell, a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.


Probable cause documents related to the case have been sealed, as prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing. In addition, there is a protective order on body camera footage in this case, with the state saying the video is very graphic.


A cash bond of $2 million has been set for Bal, and the next court date is scheduled for Sept. 10.

 

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Arizona bill for executions by firing squad advances in State Capitol due to concerns with lethal injections​

By FOX 10 Staff

Published February 19, 2025 5:26pm MST

The Brief​

• A bill proposes firing squads for executions instead of lethal injections, citing flaws in the current method.
• If the bill passes, inmates who committed crimes before Nov. 23, 1992 can choose between a firing squad or the gas chamber.
• Retired Judge David Duncan was commissioned by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to review lethal injection protocols, raising concerns before he was fired.

PHOENIX - A bill that would ask Arizona voters to allow the use of firing squads to execute death row inmates has advanced at the Arizona State Capitol.


On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the House Regulatory Oversight Committee passed Resolution 20-24.


It would require firing squads to carry out executions instead of lethal injection.


The bill also says inmates who committed crimes before Nov. 23, 1992, can choose to die by firing squad or the gas chamber.
What we know:


Retired federal judge David Duncan led a review of lethal injection protocols ordered by Governor Katie Hobbs.


Hobbs fired him last fall, saying she lost confidence in him.