In a departure from the typical extradition proceedings in homicide cases, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell cited a lack of trust in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, when she declined to sanction the transfer of accused murderer Raad Almansoori to New York.
Mitchell expressed reservations about Bragg’s ability to ensure the suspect’s continued detention.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Mitchell unequivocally stated that her legal team would abstain from collaborating with the controversial Bragg. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is actively pursuing charges against Almansoori for the alleged murder of 38-year-old Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, whose body was found in a Manhattan hotel room, having succumbed to fatal injuries inflicted by an iron.
The 26-year-old Almansoori has also been identified as the primary suspect in a crime in Arizona. He faces charges in connection with crimes in Phoenix and Surprise, Arizona shortly after the New York homicide.
“Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by the Manhattan D.A. there, Alvin Bragg, I think it’s safer to keep him here and keep him in custody, so that he cannot be out doing this to individuals either in our state, county, or anywhere in the United States,” said Mitchell.
Emily Tuttle, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney Mr. Bragg, deemed Ms. Mitchell’s statement a grave insult.
“It is deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation,” Ms. Tuttle said in a press release.
“New York’s murder rate is less than half that of Phoenix, Arizona, because of the hard work of the N.Y.P.D. and all of our law enforcement partners,” Tuttle said. “It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorker’s death.”
Bragg faces criticism for permitting suspected illegal migrants to be released without bail in an assault on an NYPD officer. Subsequently, four out of the five suspects were set free within hours. As they exited the courtroom, Jhoan Boada, 22, flipped off reporters before authorities lost track of the offender’s post-release transport.
NEW: Migrant mob beats NYPD officers near Times Square, released days later without bail according to the New York Post.
It's almost as if New York City is *encouraging* people to beat up their officers.
After the beating, police chased down and found the men who were "asylum… pic.twitter.com/IqYg2KhJbs
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 31, 2024
Following the discovery of Ms. Oleas-Arancibia’s body by workers at the SoHo 54 Hotel on February 8, Almansoori swiftly traveled to Arizona, as revealed by New York police officials on Wednesday.
A mere nine days after the discovery of Oleas-Arancibia’s body, Almansoori perpetrated a carjacking in Phoenix, involving the stabbing of the female driver, according to the police. Subsequently, on February 18, Almansoori entered a McDonald’s in Surprise, forcibly taking a woman into a bathroom, and inflicting multiple stab wounds, as detailed by New York police officials.
Almansoori was apprehended in Scottsdale, Arizona, while operating a stolen vehicle.