11 July 23rd - July 29th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | since adopted such a policy — and pointed to two previous instances in which Phoenix officers caused burns in a similar fashion. One such instance resulted in a death. In August 2019, then-17-year-old Roniah Trotter suffered second-degree burns when officers held her down on hot pavement while arresting her. About a year later, in August 2020, Phoenix police officers pinned Ramon Timothy Lopez down on hot pavement before hogtying him and putting him facedown in the back of a patrol car. Lopez was found unresponsive a few minutes later and pronounced dead at the hospital. But those two incidents were not enough of a pattern to press a Monell claim against the city, Lanza wrote. Two incidents since 2019 aren’t sufficient to place Phoenix “on notice that the lack of the policies ‘would likely result in a constitutional violation,’” he wrote, quoting a legal precedent. Nor did Sabedra show that the city should be held liable for not training the officers properly. “Failure-to-train liability turns not just on the deficiency of the training program, but on the municipality’s deliberate indif- ference to that deficiency,” he wrote. However, Lanza granted leave for Sabedra’s attorneys to amend her complaint as to the excessive force charge in order to more successfully incorporate Monell. They have 14 days from his ruling to submit an amended complaint. Sabedra’s unlawful seizure and false arrest claim appears to be dead, however. Lanza dismissed that count, disagreeing with Sabedra’s contention that she had been arrested without probable cause. Lanza wrote that officers can make warrantless arrests if, in the moment, they believe there is probable cause. The judge noted that the officers were responding to a 911 call that reported that “two Hispanic females were engaged in a verbal altercation and actively swinging on each other.” When officers arrived, Sabedra admitted to being one of the women involved in the argument. “The Defendant Officers could have reasonably believed that Plaintiff had committed disorderly conduct,” Lanza wrote before dismissing the unlawful seizure and false arrest claim. It is unclear whether Sabedra’s attor- neys, Kristin Wong and J. Blake Mayes of MayesTelles PLLC, will appeal that ruling or file an amended complaint. They did not respond to requests for comment. Phoenix spokesperson Dan Wilson said the city declined to comment on the ruling because of the ongoing litigation. Clarissa Sabedra’s run-in with Phoenix police resulted in a trip to the Valleywise Health burn unit, where she underwent a debridement to remove damaged tissue. (Provided by MayesTelles) Burn Notice from p 8 Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) BECAUSE PAVEMENT GETS BORING 2026 FORD EXPLORER TREMOR The 2026 Ford Explorer The 2026 Ford Explorer Tremor is what happens when Tremor is what happens when the Explorer spends a weekend the Explorer spends a weekend hanging out with the Bronco and hanging out with the Bronco and comes back with a little extra comes back with a little extra swagger. Starting at $64,405 and swagger. Starting at $64,405 and powered by a 3.0-liter EcoBoost powered by a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, this isn’t your average soccer V6, this isn’t your average soccer practice shuttle. Sure, it’ll haul the practice shuttle. Sure, it’ll haul the kids, the dog, and enough snacks kids, the dog, and enough snacks to survive a youth baseball to survive a youth baseball tournament, but it also looks tournament, but it also looks like it’d rather be kicking up dirt like it’d rather be kicking up dirt somewhere miles away from the somewhere miles away from the nearest Starbucks. It’s the kind of nearest Starbucks. It’s the kind of SUV that practically dares you to SUV that practically dares you to take the long way home. take the long way home. The V6 has more than The V6 has more than enough muscle to make merging enough muscle to make merging onto the freeway feel effortless, onto the freeway feel effortless, and despite its size, the Explorer and despite its size, the Explorer Tremor doesn’t drive like you’re Tremor doesn’t drive like you’re captaining a cruise ship. It feels captaining a cruise ship. It feels surprisingly composed, with surprisingly composed, with plenty of confidence whether plenty of confidence whether you’re carving through mountain you’re carving through mountain roads or dodging the crater-sized roads or dodging the crater-sized potholes that somehow keep potholes that somehow keep multiplying around town. The 17 multiplying around town. The 17 city and 22 highway MPG won’t city and 22 highway MPG won’t earn you a standing ovation from earn you a standing ovation from your local gas station, but let’s be your local gas station, but let’s be honest: nobody buys a Tremor honest: nobody buys a Tremor because they’re chasing fuel because they’re chasing fuel economy. They buy it because it economy. They buy it because it looks like adventure showed up looks like adventure showed up wearing hiking boots instead of wearing hiking boots instead of loafers. loafers. What really makes the Tremor What really makes the Tremor stand out is that it doesn’t force stand out is that it doesn’t force you to choose between family you to choose between family duty and fun. On Monday, it’s duty and fun. On Monday, it’s hauling backpacks, groceries, hauling backpacks, groceries, and golf clubs. By Saturday, it’s and golf clubs. By Saturday, it’s loaded with coolers, camping loaded with coolers, camping gear, and someone insisting they gear, and someone insisting they know a “shortcut” that definitely know a “shortcut” that definitely isn’t on Google Maps. That’s isn’t on Google Maps. That’s where the Tremor feels right at where the Tremor feels right at home. Ford managed to build an home. Ford managed to build an SUV that’s rugged without being SUV that’s rugged without being obnoxious, capable without obnoxious, capable without being overkill, and comfortable being overkill, and comfortable enough that nobody complains enough that nobody complains from the third row. In a world full from the third row. In a world full of crossovers trying to blend in, of crossovers trying to blend in, the Explorer Tremor is perfectly the Explorer Tremor is perfectly happy getting a little dirt on its happy getting a little dirt on its tires. tires. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
