Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Burglary/Fraud Suspect - Attempt to Identify

UPDATE JANUARY 20, 2018:   With the help of a local citizen, he was located and arrested for several crimes throughout the East Valley. This would not have been possible without the assistance from the citizen who noticed our Facebook post requesting the public’s assistance. THANK YOU to the citizen who helped bring this individual to justice. You have truly made a difference in our community.

ORIGINAL POST:
On December 3rd, 2017 at 6:20 pm a white male entered EOS Fitness at 2159 E Baseline and went directly to the locker room. The victim’s locker was locked, and had been cut open, with his car keys and credit cards stolen from within the locker. The same suspect was observed in the nearby Target Store less than half an hour after leaving the gym, fraudulently using the Victim’s stolen credit cards for purchases totaling over $1000.00

If this suspect looks familiar or if you have any information that may help us identify him, please call Mesa Police at 480-644-2211

Incident Location: EOS Fitness- 2159 E Baseline Road

Suspect: #1 white male, 25-35 years old, 6’00 220, wearing clothing seen in photos, neck tattoo on right side, sleeve tattoo right arm


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Arrested - Thirsty Cowboy Armed Robbery Series

Between November 27, 2017 and December 12, 2017, several armed robberies were committed in the cities of Mesa and Tempe in Arizona. Each incident had a similar suspect description and collectively were referred to as the Thirsty Cowboy Armed Robbery Series. On December 14, 2017, thanks to great cooperation and coordination between our agency and Tempe Police Department and Gilbert Police Department, probable cause was established to charge Aaron Michael Hess (Date of Birth: 7/02/1959) with the following:

Two counts of ARMED ROBBERY-WITH DEADLY WEAPON
Three counts of AGGRAVATED ASSAULT-DEADLY WEAPON/DANGEROUS INSTRUMENT
One count of ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY-WITH DEADLY WEAPON
Three counts of KIDNAP-APPREHENSION OF INJURY

A search warrant was carried out at Aaron’s residence and vehicle where detectives located the Cowboy hat, shirts worn during the robberies and a toy revolver, which had been altered to look realistic. Aaron is a suspect in 4 Tempe armed robberies and charges are forthcoming for those incidents as well. Aaron is currently on probation for armed robbery and recently completed a 10-year sentence with the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Mesa Incidents:


November 27, 2017 - Water and Ice store at 1927 North Gilbert Road, Mesa, Arizona. Suspect description: White Male, 50-60 years old, wearing long sleeve plaid shirt, jeans, tinted glasses and a tan colored cowboy style hat.

November 29, 2017 - Fiiz Drinks at 1942 East Southern Avenue, Mesa Arizona. Suspect description: White Male, 50-60 years old, 160 pounds with blue eyes, gray hair, saggy sunken in cheeks wearing a brown/red long sleeve shirt, khaki pants, and tan cowboy style hat.

December 12, 2017 - Bahama Bucks located at 303 East Southern Avenue, Mesa Arizona. Suspect description: White Male, late 50s or even early 60s, having a very light complexion, a medium length beard, 5'05" or 5'06" tall, having a thin build and approximately 130 pounds. The suspect was wearing dark colored jeans, a plain black unzipped hooded sweater with the hood up, and an unknown color t-shirt.





Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Operation Sleigh Ride - Prostitution Arrests

Prostitution Arrests

Mesa Police Detectives completed another operation targeting the demand side of prostitution to reduce human trafficking within Mesa. Operation Sleigh Ride utilized officers and undercover detectives from various units within the Department who placed Ads on websites commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts. The suspects solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were arrested when they responded to the location where they were supposed to meet for sex.

Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels human sex trafficking from our community. Suspects willing to solicit sex acts for money, fuel that demand.
The suspects in the latest operation ranged in age from 57 to 24 years old.

The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked. If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org

Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation was crucial to the success of this investigation.
For more information about human exploitation and trafficking, please visit http://mesaaz.gov/residents/police/departments-divisions/mesa-family-advocacy-center/heat

Individuals arrested:

Hari Lubovac, 42 Tempe, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Harpreet Singh, 48 Phoenix, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Adrian Peric, 57 Phoenix, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Raul Chavez- Escalante, 24 Buckeye, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Tony Gordon, 40 Chandler, AZ Prostitution, C1M
Jesus Felix, 52 Mesa, AZ Prostitution, C1M

Friday, December 1, 2017

Attempted Murder Arrest

Last night (11/30/17) just before Midnight we responded to 3563 E Main St (QT Store) reference a stabbing call. Upon arrival, we located an adult female victim who was stabbed in the back with a 6 inch knife. Subsequent investigation revealed, as she was exiting her vehicle to enter the store, the suspect ran out of the shadows behind her and stabbed her in the back. She had no warning and no idea the suspect was behind her when this occurred. She entered the QT with the knife still lodged in her back and collapsed at the front desk.

The suspect ran from the scene toward Val Vista Rd but was observed by the Air Unit fleeing the area. He was contacted by Mesa Police Officers and quickly identified as the suspect due to the clothing and physical description provided. This was confirmed through video surveillance at the QT and he was subsequently arrested. He later admitted to stabbing the victim in the back and using Methamphetamine earlier in the day. The victim does not know the suspect making this a senseless act of violence against her. She is currently in very critical condition at the hospital. The suspect has been identified as 22 Year old James Narcel Heard and he was charged with one count of Attempted Second Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon.

We are grateful for the quick response from the Air Unit and the Officers on scene who quickly identified and took this dangerous suspect into custody. Our thoughts are with the victim and we wish her the best in her recovery.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Attempt to Identify - Burglary

On November 26 around 4:20am, the suspect shown entered the garage of a home in the 800 block of East Jasmine. The suspect is seen on video removing a kid's "Hot Wheels" BMX bike and a wooden sawhorse in order to get to the dirt bike (seen below). The suspect returned around 4:50am and took the BMX bike as well. The dirt bike is a 2006 Honda CRF45 ATC.

The victim has posted the security videos on YouTube:

Video #1 (skip to 2:22:06 & 2:51:50) https://youtu.be/Q09gFa_IbWI
Video #2 (skip to 1:22-2:14 then 2:39-3:12 and 31:00) https://youtu.be/7d7WCXI4ceU

The suspect is described as a White or Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, around 5'8" tall, 150 lbs. He has short cut hair, tattoos on arms (full sleeve), hands and possibly neck. Was initially wearing a blue/grey sweater, backwards baseball hat, long pants, black shoes with white bottoms and black gloves. When he returned he was wearing a T-shirt, no hat and had a longboard skateboard.

Please submit any information regarding the crime or identity of the suspect(s) through one of the following. You can remain anonymous.
  • Use our online form found here – (https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtipforms/webform.aspx?id=51&AgencyID=836.) Please refer to case number 2017-3300311.  Please fill in the case number in the Case Number field under Incident Information.
  • Text information to 274-637 (CRIMES). Begin your message with MESAPD.
  • Call our non-emergency number at 480-644-2211 and select option 2.




Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Crime Stats - October 2017

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 10/01/2017 through 10/31/2017. 

To see which district you are in, click on each individual district listed at left to see their map.
 

FIESTA
CENTRAL
Call TypeFrequencyCall TypeFrequency
Check Welfare456Check Welfare401
Subjects Disturbing420Subjects Disturbing351
Other Agency Assist271Warrant Arrest236
Trespass210Trespass 222
Civil Matter173Other Agency Assist218




ArrestsFrequencyArrestsFrequency
Homicide1Homicide0
Rape1Rape2
Robbery3Robbery4
Aggravated Assault17Aggravated Assault18
Breaking & Entering5Breaking & Entering6
Theft39Theft47
GTA1GTA2
Alcohol/DUI64Alcohol/DUI56
Other Assaults40Other Assaults44
Disorderly Conduct16Disorderly Conduct33
Drugs86Drugs91
Fiscal/Forgery7Fiscal/Forgery21
Loitering/Runaway9Loitering/Runaway7
Sex Offenses1Sex Offenses2
Vandalism21Vandalism21
All Other
191
All Other257
TOTAL502TOTAL611




RED MOUNTAIN
SUPERSTITION
Call TypeFrequencyCall TypeFrequency
Check Welfare391Check Welfare388
Subjects Disturbing326Subjects Disturbing247
Burglary Alarm220Other Agency Assist228
Other Agency Assist209Burglary Alarm221
Civil Matter177Civil Matter166




ArrestsFrequencyArrestsFrequency
Homicide1Homicide1
Rape1Rape0
Robbery0Robbery2
Aggravated Assault13Aggravated Assault10
Breaking & Entering5Breaking & Entering3
Theft39Theft68
GTA1GTA2
Alcohol/DUI44Alcohol/DUI30
Other Assaults29Other Assaults23
Disorderly Conduct34Disorderly Conduct41
Drugs55Drugs6
Fiscal/Forgery11Fiscal/Forgery0
Loitering/Runaway3Loitering/Runaway0
Sex Offenses1Sex Offenses0
Vandalism18 Vandalism7
All Other125 All Other100
TOTAL380TOTAL313

STOLEN BACKFLOW VALVES 101. WE NEED YOUR HELP!



Mesa and surrounding jurisdictions have seen an alarming increase in the number of Backflow Valve Thefts hitting the Valley. This crime is costly and inconvenient for our citizens. We need your help to put an end to this trend!


What exactly is a backflow valve?
  • A backflow valve (assembly) prevents water that has become polluted or contaminated by contact with the environment, from reversing direction and flowing backward into a customer's potable water plumbing or in the municipal water distribution system.  Landscape irrigation systems, swimming pool auto fill lines, or plumbing connection equipment and appliances are examples of water applications that can compromise the public water system if appropriate protection is not in place.


How does it affect ME when a backflow valve is stolen?
·         Costs to replace stolen backflow assemblies will invariably be passed on to customers.
  • This includes additional costs relating to property damage to cages, plumbing, pads, and the landscaping associated with a backflow assembly.
  • Disruption of water service to critical care facilities, nursing homes, restaurants, grocery stores, apartment complexes, etc.
  • The integrity of the public water distribution system and public health may be compromised when a backflow assembly is removed and the water system piping is opened to the environment. 

It’s just metal--how much could they really cost to replace?
  • A lot! Prices for a new backflow assembly vary significantly depending on its size and type.  Typical prices may range between $100-$800 dollars just for the assembly.  With labor, fittings, pipe, and repairs to damaged cages and pads, the re installation of a stolen assembly may be between $1000-$3000!


Is there anything I can do to assist with this problem?
·         YES! You are our first line of defense. You are the eyes and ears that will notice the theft! Be on the lookout for suspicious activity in your area. Thieves often target apartment complexes, restaurants, community pools, retention basins, HOAS, churches, hospitals, car dealerships and gas stations.
·         Call 911 immediately if you see suspicious activity occurring near a backflow assembly or metal piping.
  • Record license plate numbers of vehicles where individuals are observed removing a backflow assembly. A location, vehicle make, model and color, and suspect description are very helpful. Do you notice more than one suspect present? Make sure to let the Police know of everything you see.
  • Be advised that backflow assemblies are permanent fixtures.  The only time a backflow assembly may be removed is if another is installed in its place. 
  • Most companies that specialize in backflow service will display their company logo on their vehicle.  Unmarked vehicles associated with activity around a backflow assembly should be suspect.

I have information and want to help! How can I submit tips?
There are many methods to report information on subjects who have stolen or may be stealing backflow valves—please choose the one that you are most comfortable with:

1.       If it’s an in-progress event, contact 911 immediately!
2.       If you have delayed information, contact the Mesa Police Department non-emergency line at (480) 644-2211.
3.       Submit an anonymous tip online by clicking on the following link:
4.       Text an anonymous tip to:
CRIMES (274-637) and use the Keyword: MesaPD
5.       Citizens can also submit anonymous crime tips via iPhone and Android by using the TipSubmit app. This app allows you to:
·         Submit photos and video
·         Submit written tips with unlimited messaging length
·         Remain fully anonymous with two-way dialogue, including virtual chat mode, when both parties are online
·         Auto-locate the nearest agency

TipSubmit is available in the Android Market or the Apple App Store.


Thank you for your help! Working together, we can put an end to this costly crime that is horribly inconvenient for our citizens!

A special thank you to Kathy Macdonald, Robert Judd and Mike Cable of the City of Mesa Water Resources Department for contributing photographs and information for this article.