Tucson Police Make Arrest In Ft. Lowell Rd. Homicide

The Tucson Police Department is actively investigating the death of 53-year-old Juan Martin Cuen-Amavizca that occurred Sunday morning in the 2600 block of E. Ft. Lowell Rd.

On November 6, 2016, around 10:00 a.m., officers and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to a check welfare call in the 2600 block of E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Upon arrival, they located Cuen-Amavizca with obvious signs of trauma. Paramedics immediately transported him to Banner University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Sadly, Cuen-Amavizca was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.

Detectives from the Tucson Police Department’s Homicide Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They learned Mr. Cuen-Amavizca had been performing repairs at the residence and was scheduled to work this morning with several other individuals. Around 10:00 a.m. some of the other workers arrived on scene and located Mr. Cuen-Amavizca injured inside the residence. They immediately called 911.

Detectives also learned a vehicle was missing from the driveway of residence. It was described as a white 1996 Ford F350 box style truck bearing Arizona license plate CG50721. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., a plainclothes officer located the truck in the area of N. 11th Ave. and W. 22nd St. and began to follow. Officers in marked Tucson Police Department vehicles attempted a traffic stop on the truck at N. Runway Dr. and W. Highway Dr. The driver of the truck did not stop and a pursuit was initiated. The Tucson Police Department K-9 Unit and Air Unit responded to assist along with officers from the Department of Public Safety, Marana Police Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The pursuit continued through several jurisdictions and ended in the 9000 block of W. Tangerine Rd. after spikes were deployed on the truck.

The driver, 28-year-old Ralph Pops Carter, was arrested on the following charges:
 First Degree Murder – A Class 1 Felony
 Armed Robbery – A Class 2 Felony
 Theft of Means of Transportation – A Class 3 Felony
 Unlawful Flight from a Law Enforcement Vehicle – A Class 5 Felony

Mr. Carter was transported and booked into the Pima County Jail