Monday, February 5, 2024

Mesa PD Needs Help Identifying Attempted Sexual Assault Suspect

 

News Release

The Mesa Police Department is investigating an attempted sexual assault of a minor that occurred over the weekend and is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. 

 

On February 3, 2024, just before 9:00 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to an apartment in the 300 block of N. 75th Street for an attempted sexual assault on a minor. The suspect had already left the area on foot and officers were unable to locate him. He is being described as a black male between the ages of 25–40 years old, standing 5ft 10in tall with a medium build. The suspect has a goatee style beard that is longer and thicker on the chin and dark spiky hair. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie with a white logo and dark pants. 


Composite Sketch of Suspect
 

The Mesa Police Department in conjunction with the Mesa Crime Lab have been working diligently on this case since Saturday night, canvassing the neighborhood and expediting forensic evidence, hoping for a break in the case. 

 

We need your help. If you have any information or think you may know who the suspect is, please call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644–2211. 

 

To our community, remember to lock all doors and windows. Turn on your residential outdoor lights. Stay vigilant, and if you see anything suspicious, call 911. 

 

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Thursday, January 18, 2024

Carjacking Suspects Arrested

What should have been a simple transaction turned into much more for a mother and her seven-year-old daughter on a Wednesday afternoon in Mesa. After listing her car for sale on OfferUp, she met with a potential buyer at Wells Fargo Bank, located near Stapley and McKellips. While speaking to the buyer about the vehicle and sale price, she came face to face with a career criminal who pointed a gun at her and demanded she give him the vehicle.

The woman ran with her daughter, trying to escape what she thought was going to be the end of her life. Her daughter fell in the parking lot, scraping her knee in the process. Finally, they gained safety in the Wells Fargo Bank, just as the red 2021 Dodge Charger drove out of the parking lot with the gunman and potential buyer in the car.


Stolen Vehicle

The woman told Mesa police officers she had never seen the gunman or buyer before today, but did have the phone number that was used to inquire about the vehicle. The phone number belonged to 29-year-old Joseph Toledo. Officers obtained a location for the phone and responded to Banner Deer Valley Hospital, where they found the stolen vehicle unoccupied.

Using police databases, officers identified several addresses that Joseph Toledo might frequent throughout Phoenix. While stopping by each one, Toledo was eventually located traveling as a passenger in a vehicle. The Phoenix Police Department’s air support team assisted in following Toledo to the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry, where they finally found Toledo… checking in with his Parole Officer.

And the potential buyer from earlier? Officers found her in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked outside and waiting for Toledo. She was identified as 23-year-old Iridiane Garcia. Garcia told officers the keys to the stolen vehicle were in her purse, right along with the gun Toledo used against the victim.

Both Toledo and Garcia were booked into jail for multiple felony charges to include Armed Robbery and Theft of Means of Transportation.

Iridiane Garcia
Joseph Toledo




Wednesday, November 29, 2023

ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT SUSPECT ARRESTED: Responsible for nearly $2 million loss at Home Depot

Mesa police officers arrested 39-year-old Juan Ambriz-Rincon after he spent more than a year stealing from The Home Depot stores across the valley and creating a total loss of no less than $46,000 just in Arizona. Ambriz-Rincon is also the suspect in Organized Retail Thefts in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, where The Home Depot investigators have documented more than $900,000 worth of product loss, with an estimation closer to $2,000,000 over the last three years.

With the help of The Home Depot investigators, video evidence, and transaction receipts, officers were able to positively identify Ambriz-Rincon in 14 different thefts from the retail store between October 10, 2022- October 16, 2023. The thefts occurred through Mesa, Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, and Avondale.

Utilizing the self-checkout option, Ambriz-Rincon paid for a few items in his possession but failed to pay for the high dollar items in his cart. He would then return the stolen items for money or sell them to customers through social media in various states. Ambriz-Rincon also thwarted employees by presenting fake receipts at check out and telling them the items were already paid for before walking out with the stolen merchandise.

In one incident, Ambriz-Rincon was stopped by Asset Protection just outside The Home Depot. He had presented an invalid will call order at the register. The store was able to recover 20 units of unpaid shingles, but Ambriz-Rincon fled the scene before police arrived.

Officers were able to obtain search warrants for Ambriz-Rincon’s vehicles, storage units, and motel room, leading them to recover additional stolen items and further evidence of his crimes.

“Organized Retail Crime continues to impact The Home Depot. Public and private collaboration like our investigators have with The Mesa Police Department are a key component of combating these crimes. We appreciate Mesa PD’s partnership in helping keep our customers and employees safe.” -Sean Browne, Sr Manager, Organized Retail Crime at The Home Depot.

Juan Ambriz-Rincon was booked into jail for the following charges:

ARS 13-2310- Fraudulent Schemes, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-2307B- Trafficking Stolen Property, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1802A1 (14 counts)- Theft over $25,000, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1819A1 (14 counts)- Organized Retail Theft, a class 4 felony

ARS 13-3407A1- Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a class 4 felony


Juan Ambriz-Rincon


Monday, August 14, 2023

MESA PD ARREST THREE FOR VIOLENT CRIME SPREE

Mesa police officers arrested three suspects in connection with a violent crime spree that occurred on the evening of August 11, 2023. 18-year-old Isaiah Ortiz and two other suspects, under the age of eighteen, were booked into jail for various felony charges to include assisting a criminal street gang. It all happened within a few minutes as the three suspects managed to victimize 8 people, while traveling in a vehicle, and using a firearm. 

At 5:41pm, Mesa Police Officers responded to a shots fired call in the 1500 block of south Pima. Officers found multiple shell casings on the ground and a car with a bullet strike on its frame. The suspect vehicle was described as a black Kia Optima.


Bullet strike in victim vehicle

At 5:44pm, the Mesa Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center alerted officers to Guerrero Rotary Park, where they saw three suspects get out of a black Kia and approach two people in the park. One suspect, now known to be Ortiz, used a handgun to rob the victims.  

At 5:45pm, just south of the park, a victim reported Ortiz pointed a gun at him and tried to rob him. As the vehicle drove away, the victim and a witness reported hearing shots fired.

Shortly after, another victim told officers that one of the juvenile suspects asked him for money and when he didn’t give him any, Ortiz put a gun to his neck and asked if he wanted to die.

The spree continued with two more victims telling officers that the black Kia drove left of center and toward them while Oritz pointed a gun at them.

Mesa police officers located the Kia and attempted to stop the car by activating their patrol car lights and sirens, but the vehicle refused to pull over and fled the scene. Ultimately, the vehicle became disabled after colliding with another vehicle while turning in the roadway. 


Suspect vehicle

All three suspects ran from the vehicle in three different directions, but amazingly, officers were able to apprehend all three. Ortiz was found to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound and required transportation to the hospital, he was also in possession of a firearm. It was unclear when Ortiz received the injury.

Multiple victims and witnesses identified the three suspects on scene as those who committed the crimes.

Both juvenile suspects were booked into Durango Juvenile Holding Facility.

On August 13, 2023, Isaiah Ortiz was released from the hospital and booked into jail, where he remains on a $150,000 bond. He was booked for the following charges.

·        5 counts- ARS 13-1904.A2- Armed Robbery, a class two felony

·        5 counts- ARS 13-1204.A2- Aggravated Assault, a class three felony

·        ARS 28-622.01- Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement, a class five felony

·        ARS 13-2321.B- Assisting a Criminal Street Gang, a class three felony

·        ARS 13-1209A- Drive by Shooting, a class two felony

·        ARS 13-3107A- Unlawful Discharge of Firearm


Isaiah Ortiz Mug Shot




Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Three Suspects Arrested in Violent Armed Robbery

On 07/26/2023 just before 2:00am, The Mesa Police Department arrested 23-year-old Michael Jackson, 22-year-old Tyshaun Pruitt, and a 17-year-old juvenile for an armed robbery that occurred in the 2100 block of West Broadway. All three were booked into jail.

The situation started when our victim went to an ATM to take out some cash not knowing that the suspects were watching the ATM, possibly trying to identify potential victims. It appears the victim was followed by the suspects to his apartment and as he walked to his front door, three men jumped out with guns and demanded his money, valuables, and car keys. The victim said that one of the suspects had an assault rifle that was pointed at his head. After robbing the victim at gunpoint, the suspects fled and stole his vehicle in the process. Officers arrived, spoke to the victim, and found that the victims’ vehicle was equipped with a tracking device. When the tracking was turned on, the vehicle was showing in Phoenix. Officers from several surrounding agencies responded to the area. With the assistance of the Mesa Police Air Unit, the victim’s vehicle was found exiting an apartment complex on the Phoenix and Tempe border. As officers moved into the area, the victim’s vehicle was disabled. The three suspects bailed out of the car and ran west on foot. All three were caught a short time later.

All three suspects refused to speak to police. Items belonging to the suspects were found in and around the victim’s vehicle. All three were booked for armed robbery ARS 13-1904A1, a class 2 felony.

This is a reminder to be vigilant whenever you are taking cash out of ATM’s or banks. Keep an eye on your surroundings and if you see something that stands out, don’t hesitate to call the police. 

We would like to thank Arizona DPS, Tempe Police, and Phoenix Police for assisting us in locating and arresting the suspects in this case.


Jackson booking photo


Pruitt booking photo



Monday, July 3, 2023

Suspect Arrested After Starting Fires in Mesa Target

On June 27, 2023, just before 10:00 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to reports of a fire inside a Target store located at 1230 S. Longmore. Officers ran inside the store with a fire extinguisher, yelling to make sure no one else was inside, but soon realized the store had filled with too much smoke and had to exit.

Smoke in Target

Mesa Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire. In a joint investigation with Mesa Fire, officers learned that two separate fires were started inside the store: one in the baby diaper aisle and the other, a piece of clothing on the floor.   

Diaper Aisle

Burned Shirt

Target reported the amount of damage caused by the fire was upwards of $5,000,000 as toxic smoke had contacted all the merchandise inside the store in addition to fire suppression sprinklers flooding the area.

Officers gathered video surveillance from Target and watched as an adult man walked through the store, placing items into a shopping cart. This man picks up a shirt resembling the one that was set on fire. He hastily moves from the area, toward electronics as smoke is starting to invade the store. The man watches the fire grow and then attempts to break into a case of cell phones with a hammer but is unsuccessful.

The man is one of the last to leave the store and when he does, he takes several items of stolen merchandise with him and flees in a black sedan.

Officers obtained a license plate from surveillance video and eventually identified a suspect, 31-year-old Daniel Hull.  As luck would have it, officers wouldn’t have to look far to find Hull, he was sitting in Mesa Police custody from an unrelated arrest earlier in the day.

Hull was interviewed by officers and admitted to starting the fires.

Daniel Hull was booked into jail for the following charges related to this case:

ARS 13-1704A; Arson of an occupied structure, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1201A; Endangerment, a class 6 felony

ARS 13-1805I; Shoplift Artifice, a class 4 felony

ARS 13-1602A1; Criminal Damage over $5,000,000, a class 4 felony

Daniel Hull Mug Shot



Thursday, May 11, 2023

Arrest Made in Shooting Death of Jeremiah Aviles

On May 7, 2023, just before 2:00 a.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired in a house on the 2300 block of east Camino St. During their investigation, officers learned that 18-year-old Peter Clabron III lived at this residence and was inside his bedroom with 18-year-old Jeremiah Aviles and a witness when Jeremiah was shot and later pronounced deceased on scene.

Officers obtained initial statements from both Clabron III and the witness about what happened, but later learned the information was not truthful and attempted to point blame at another person who was not in the bedroom during the shooting. Eventually, the witness came forward and told the officers the truth. 

After the execution of a search warrant, officers located video evidence that shows Clabron III pointing a firearm several times at Jeremiah prior to and leading up to the shooting. In addition, just hours before the deadly shooting, witnesses identified Clabron III firing a handgun into the air from the back of a truck traveling though his neighborhood. 

On May 11, 2023, Peter Clabron III was booked into jail for the following charges: 

ARS 13-1103A1; Manslaughter, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-3107A; Unlawful discharge of a firearm, a class 6 felony (2 counts)

Peter Clabron III Mug Shot


 


Monday, April 17, 2023

Mesa Police Arrest Suspect in Weekend Murder

 

Over the weekend, the Mesa Police Department responded to a shooting at Sossaman and Main where 42-year-old Arron Hendricks was shot and killed. 18-year-old Anton Sereghy was arrested and charged with second degree murder.

On April 15, 2023, just before 5:15 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to a shooting at Sossaman and Main Street. They found 42-year-old Arron Hendricks, lying in the roadway next to his motorcycle with a gunshot wound. Arron was transported to the hospital where he died.

According to witnesses, Arron was riding east on Main Street with a group of motorcyclists when they became involved in a "road rage" incident with a red Nissan. When both vehicles stopped for the red light at Sossaman and Main, a verbal altercation occurred. As Arron was a few feet away from the red Nissan one shot was fired from the vehicle striking Arron in the neck.

After the shooting, the red Nissan fled eastbound on Main Street. Witnesses provided police with a description of the driver and the suspect who was sitting in the passenger seat. Officers were also provided video from a witness dashcam mounted on his front dashboard which helped them identify the red Nissan. Using this information, detectives were able to locate the driver and ultimately Anton.

Both the driver and Anton admitted to being involved in a road rage altercation with several motorcyclists. Anton said he was scared about being assaulted by the motorcyclists and shot Arron because he “lost it” when the motorcyclists were yelling and cussing at him and because Arron “spit at him”. 

Anton Sereghy was arrested for one count of second-degree murder.


Sereghy Mugshot


 

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Suspect Wanted for Murder in Mesa Arrested

                                

MESA, AZ- (April 7, 2023) Murder suspect, 27-year-old Kathryn “Katie” Hansen has finally been located and taken into custody two months after the murder of 32-year-old Keith Emmons.

 

On February 7, 2023, just after 2:00 a.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to a residence in the area of 1100 S. Palo Verde regarding a shooting. Officers discovered 32-year-old Keith Emmons dead inside a bedroom with gunshot wounds to his body.

 

Witnesses identified Hansen as the suspect. A warrant was issued for Hansen on first degree murder charges in the death of Emmons.

 

This afternoon, the Phoenix Police Department notified Mesa Police that they had a lead and possible location on Hansen. Soon after, they took Hansen into custody.

 

The Mesa Police Department would like to thank the community for their assistance in this case. We asked for the public’s help and received several tips. Those tips allowed detectives to follow up on leads that we believe ultimately led to Hansen’s arrest. Our community’s willingness to step up helped us take a violent offender off the street. We hope this arrest brings some peace and closure to the Emmons family.



 

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Mesa Police Arrest Suspect in BoSa Donuts Shooting

 
On 04/02/2023 at around 3:15am, The Mesa Police Department received a call of a shooting at the BoSa Donut Shop located at 805 N Dobson. The caller (one of the victims) stated that a black male, later identified as 30 year old Donald Williams, entered the donut shop, and began arguing with both him and the employees. The caller backed away from Williams who then moved to the counter where he displayed a handgun shooting one of the workers at the counter. He also fired at two other employees but did not strike them. The caller stated that he went outside, got in his car, and tried to leave. Williams came out of the donut shop and fired several rounds at him while he was trying to drive away. Williams then ran from the scene in a westbound direction. 

The victims were both treated by Mesa Police and Fire personnel and transported to the hospital. The male victim has since been released and the female victim remains in the hospital. 

Detectives were able to identify Williams as the suspect and he was taken into custody earlier today without incident. During an interview with detectives, Williams admitted his involvement in this shooting and provided detectives with information where he disposed of the handgun used in this incident. Detectives are actively working to locate and recover this handgun. We commend all the officers and support personnel who worked tirelessly for the last three days to bring this case to a resolution. 

Donald Williams was booked into jail for the following charges: 
  •  2 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, ARS 13-1105A.1, a class 2 felony
  •  2 counts of Aggravated Assault, ARS 13-1204A.1 (cause serious physical injury) a class 3 felony
  •  2 counts Aggravated Assault, ARS 13-1204A.2 (uses a deadly weapon) a class 3 felony 
  •  4 counts of Endangerment ARS 13-1201.A a class 6 felony 
  • 1 count of Tampering with Evidence ARS 13-2809A.1 a class 6 felony

Donald Williams Mug Shot