Five Minutes with the Chief - 2014-1

Chief Milstead keeps you up-to-date on Mesa PD news!

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.

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

 

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.

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.

 

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.  

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 Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Subjects Disturbing	395	Subjects Disturbing	421
Check Welfare	336	Check Welfare	340
Other Agency Assist	196	Other Agency Assist	213
Suspicious Activity	177	Loud Music/Noise	183
Loud Music/Noise	162	Suspicious Activity	162
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Rape	1	Rape	2
Robbery	2	Robbery	8
Aggravated Assault	9	Aggravated Assault	23
Breaking & Entering	6	Breaking & Entering	3
Theft	70	Theft	70
GTA	2	GTA	2
Alcohol/DUI	50	Alcohol/DUI	53
Other Assaults	41	Other Assaults	48
Disorderly Conduct	23	Disorderly Conduct	25
Drugs	52	Drugs	70
Fiscal/Forgery	12	Fiscal/Forgery	15
Loitering/Runaway	3	Loitering/Runaway	3
Sex Offenses	2	Sex Offenses	2
Vandalism	17	Vandalism	21
All Other	128	All Other	212
TOTAL	458	TOTAL	528

RED MOUNTAIN		SUPERSTITION
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	393	Check Welfare	291
Subjects Disturbing	365	Subjects Disturbing	233
Other Agency Assist	238	Other Agency Assist	213
Suspicious Activity	213	Burglary Alarm	192
Burglary Alarm	181	Suspicious Activity	174
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Robbery	9	Robbery	4
Aggravated Assault	19	Aggravated Assault	7
Breaking & Entering	11	Breaking & Entering	1
Theft	72	Theft	115
GTA	1	GTA	1
Alcohol/DUI	56	Alcohol/DUI	27
Other Assaults	37	Other Assaults	24
Disorderly Conduct	15	Disorderly Conduct	24
Drugs	85	Drugs	41
Fiscal/Forgery	11	Fiscal/Forgery	14
Loitering/Runaway	10	Loitering/Runaway	9
Sex Offenses	1	Vandalism	16
Vandalism	21	All Other	64
All Other	162
TOTAL	442	TOTAL	336