Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Attempt to Identify Shoplifting Suspect - UPDATED

(February 25, 2014) Suspect in this shoplifting has been identified as Corey Evans, 25, and has been charged with Organized Retail Theft, a class 4 Felony.
 

(February 6, 2014)   On February, 3, at 5:40 am, the suspect pictured shoplifted eleven xBox One controllers made by Microsoft, worth over $600, from the Walmart at 1606 S. Signal Butte Road. The suspect is described as a White male, late teens/early 20s. Vehicle involved is an older model gray four-door passenger car; unknown plate number. 

Please submit any information regarding the crime or identity of the suspect(s) through the “Submit a Tip” option at www.CrimeReports.com or text information to 274-637 (CRIMES). Begin your message with MESAPD. You can also call 480-644-2211 and select option 2 from the menu. Refer to report number 20140340547.

Monday, February 24, 2014

DNA Leads to Homicide Arrest

Suspect Judith Walthers
A suspect has been arrested in the homicide investigation that began February 4, 2014 at 5950 E. Norland in Mesa. Judith Elaine Walthers, 20, has been booked for First Degree Murder in the death of Kevin Worzalla, age 54. Worzalla's family had called stating that he had not been heard from for a week and requested a welfare check. Officers responded and found Worzalla deceased inside of his apartment with signs of trauma. Worzalla's vehicle and other property appeared to be missing from the residence.

Detectives working the case learned that Walthers had been staying with the victim for several days prior to the discovery of his body. She had also been seen driving the victim's vehicle. She was eventually located and charged with crimes related to the stolen vehicle. When she was arrested for the stolen vehicle, she did not admit any involvement in Worzalla's death. Evidence from the crime scene had been located and submitted to the crime lab for analysis. That analysis returned and showed that DNA belonging to Walthers was on bloody items located inside the crime scene. There was also evidence to support that Walthers had made attempts to clean the crime scene and wash bloody items.

Walthers has been charged with:
  • 1 count First Degree Murder C1F
  • 1 count Burglary-First Degree C2F
  • 1 count Trafficking in Stolen Property C2F
  • 1 count Tampering with Physical Evidence C6F
  • 1 count Theft of Means of Transportation C3F
 

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Suspicious Person Call Leads to Arrest of Subject

Photo of suspect Echols
On February 11 at 9:12 pm, officers responded to a call reference a suspicious person looking into windows and trying to open doors to the church located at 1720 E. Broadway. Upon arrival, the suspect, later identified as 43 year-old Darrell Echols,  became confrontational with them, took a fighting stance and yelled, “Which one of you want this?” The suspect then charged and grabbed an officer around his waist in an attempt to tackle him. 

Our officer was able to prevent getting tackled and a struggle began with the suspect. Another officer then deployed a Taser and both prongs hit the suspect. After being Tased, the suspect was no longer interested in fighting and was taken into custody without further incident. The officers and suspect were not injured. The suspect was drinking beer upon contact and had stated he had been up for 3 days and had taken methamphetamine earlier in the day. 

He was checked by the Mesa Fire Department and then booked for the Aggravated Assault on an Officer, Trespassing, Public Consumption, and Obstructing a Public Thoroughfare.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

ASU Walter Cronkite School Story on Mesa PD's implementation of AXON body cameras

Armed Robbery & Aggravated Assault Suspects

Surveillance photos of two of the suspects.
On January 14, 2014 at 7:10 pm, two victims were leaving their apartment in the 900 block of East Southern to get food. While walking to the car, the victims passed by two male suspects sitting on an electric box. The suspects got up and attempted a carjacking by demanding the keys to the vehicle. Two other male suspects exited a brown or gold SUV and assisted with the attempted robbery. At least one of the suspect was armed with a handgun and shot one of the victims, resulting in life-threatening injuries. A .40 caliber shell casing was found at the scene. The second victim was struck in the head with a blunt object, possibly the handgun.

The suspects were seen running westbound out of the apartment complex. During an area check, a handgun was located buried in the gravel near a storage shed in the parking lot of an LDS church west of the incident location. The handgun had been reported stolen from a residential burglary that occurred in Phoenix. All suspects are believed to be Hispanic males. Two suspects were captured on video surveillance after hopping the wall from the church into the business lot to the west.

Two of the suspects were described as 20-22 years old, 6' tall, having somewhat muscular or larger builds, black hair, facial scruff, wearing black hooded sweatshirts.

The suspect vehicle is described as a gold or brown SUV; possibly a Jeep Cherokee. It is possible a white Chrysler sedan could have also been involved. 

Please submit any information regarding the crime or identity of the suspect(s) through the “Submit a Tip” option at www.CrimeReports.com or text information to 274-637 (CRIMES). Begin your message with MESAPD. You can also call 480-644-2211 and select option 2. Refer to case number 20140140689.
 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Mesa Police Taking Police Recruit Applications

If you have a family member or friend that is interested in a career with the Mesa Police Department as sworn officer, here is some information for you. The Mesa Police Department will be opening the position for Police Officer Recruit on February 17, 2014, at 0001 hours. Please go to the City of Mesa Jobs site at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/mesaaz/default.cfm and click on 'Police Officer Recruit' to apply. The actual test will be held on April 12, 2014 at our training facility. To receive an invitation for the actual test you need to apply on-line first.  Again, the application will be available on the City of Mesa Jobs site on February 17, 2014.  




Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Crime Stats - January 2014

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 01/01/2014 through 01/31/2014.


FIESTA
CENTRAL
Call TypeFrequencyCall TypeFrequency
Subjects Disturbing395Subjects Disturbing421
Check Welfare336Check Welfare340
Other Agency Assist196Other Agency Assist213
Suspicious Activity177Loud Music/Noise183
Loud Music/Noise162Suspicious Activity162




ArrestsFrequencyArrestsFrequency
Rape1Rape2
Robbery2Robbery8
Aggravated Assault9Aggravated Assault23
Breaking & Entering6Breaking & Entering3
Theft70Theft70
GTA2GTA2
Alcohol/DUI50Alcohol/DUI53
Other Assaults41Other Assaults48
Disorderly Conduct23Disorderly Conduct25
Drugs52Drugs70
Fiscal/Forgery12Fiscal/Forgery15
Loitering/Runaway3Loitering/Runaway3
Sex Offenses2Sex Offenses2
Vandalism17Vandalism21
All Other128All Other212


   
TOTAL458TOTAL528




RED MOUNTAIN
SUPERSTITION
Call TypeFrequencyCall TypeFrequency
Check Welfare393Check Welfare291
Subjects Disturbing365Subjects Disturbing233
Other Agency Assist238Other Agency Assist213
Suspicious Activity213Burglary Alarm192
Burglary Alarm181Suspicious Activity174




ArrestsFrequencyArrestsFrequency
Robbery9Robbery4
Aggravated Assault19Aggravated Assault7
Breaking & Entering11Breaking & Entering1
Theft72Theft115
GTA1GTA1
Alcohol/DUI56Alcohol/DUI27
Other Assaults37Other Assaults24
Disorderly Conduct15Disorderly Conduct24
Drugs85Drugs41
Fiscal/Forgery11Fiscal/Forgery14
Loitering/Runaway10Loitering/Runaway9
Sex Offenses1Vandalism16
Vandalism21All Other64
All Other162





TOTAL442TOTAL336