Two Brothers Arrested; One Woman Shot in Road Rage Incident

Two women were driving in the area of Rio Salado Pkwy and Country Club in Mesa when the occupants inside a sedan became enraged and began yelling at them. The driver of the sedan, 27-year-old Andres Nunez, began swerving into the victims’ car, nearly striking it. His 29-year-old brother Arturo Nunez was also in the car along with a girlfriend.

When both cars reached the intersection at Rio Salado and Country Club, a verbal fight broke out and continued when Arturo and the women got out of their cars. The women heard Arturo yell “west side” while showing the victims his hand in a shape of a “W”. Arturo began hitting the hood of the victims’ car while continuing to yell at them. One of the victims then hit Arturo’s car, prompting the girlfriend and brother to get out.

Realizing they were outnumbered, the woman driver yelled to her passenger to get back in the car just as the passenger was pushed to the ground by Arturo. The driver saw he was holding a gun so she jumps into the car and drives to a nearby parking lot, striking Arturo while attempting to flee. Andres then opens fire, hitting the driver three times – twice in the leg and once in the shoulder -- out of about 12 shots fired. She has non-life threatening injuries.

Mesa Police Officers arrived just as the shooting stopped. Arturo yelled “west side” and “Phoeniquera” at officers as they were giving commands. Arturo did not obey officers’ commands so several bean bag rounds were deployed. He eventually was arrested along with Andres.

Mesa PD’s K9 Rico Instrumental in Catching Burglary Suspect

Mesa Police officers respond to a burglary call at the Goodwill Store near Power and McDowell on January 12, 2020. The reporting party was monitoring the suspect inside the business via a live camera. When the suspect realizes officers are surrounding the building, he runs out and hides in an enclosed area outside the main building.

After the suspect refuses to surrender, K9 Officer Ron Swart sends his dog, Rico, to search the enclosed area. Rico bites the suspect after finding him hiding above the axle of a semi-trailer. The suspect verbally surrenders and no further use of force was required. 

The suspect, 44-year-old Russell Smith, was transported to the hospital for his bite injuries.

A backpack was recovered where Russell was hiding with cash in it. A known amount of money was taken from Goodwill, almost the same amount found in Russell’s backpack.  

Russell admits to prying open the back door and using a grinder to cut into the safe.

Russell is being charged with two felonies – 3^rd degree burglary and criminal damage.