Serial Purse Bandits In-Custody

During an eight day span in the beginning of January, three women had their purses stolen from them in the parking lots of three different shopping centers in East Mesa. In one incident, the victim was struck by the getaway vehicle as she chased the purse snatcher. In another incident, an 87-year-old woman was knocked to the ground as the suspect stole her purse. Money was taken and stolen credit cards were used at multiple local businesses.

Thankfully, witnesses assisted Mesa PD in describing the vehicle as a black pickup truck and one recorded the license plate. This led to the arrests of 37-year-old Justin Gene Mauk, who was the owner and driver of the getaway vehicle, and 28-year-old Bill Elliot Leatherman, whom we believe was the one snatching the purses.

Mauk was charged with burglary, aggravated robbery and armed robbery.

Leatherman was charged with burglary, aggravated robbery and theft. 
   

This is a good reminder to please be aware of your surroundings when entering and exiting businesses. Also, if you go shopping at night, park in a well-lit area and as close to the business as possible. Thank you to the witnesses and great job by our detectives out of the Superstition Patrol District.

Armed Robbery

On January 23 at 12:35 pm, the listed suspect entered the CVS store in the 2800 block of South Sossaman and approached the front register with some items to purchase; he also requested a pack of cigarettes. He then brandished a knife with approximately a six-inch blade and demanded money from the register. A witness saw him enter the listed vehicle.

The suspect is described as a White male, late teens or early 20's, 5' 7" to 5' 9" tall with dark hair. The vehicle is described as an older model white passenger car, possibly a Toyota or Honda. 

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 20140230305.

7-year-old Crashes ATV

On January 26 at 2:57 pm, Mesa patrol officers responded to an accident with injuries involving a 7-year-old female crashing an ATV into a wall in the 1400 block of West Vine near Alma School and Broadway. The child was driving the ATV by herself on the public road and lost control, causing her to hit a curb on the north side of the street. The girl was thrown from the ATV and hit the wall head first; she was not wearing a protective helmet. She was unconscious at the scene and is currently in stable, but guarded condition at a local hospital. The 30-year-old father will be charged with Endangerment.

DUI Suspect Strikes Officer With Vehicle While Fleeing Traffic Stop

This morning at approximately 5:10 AM, we had a two-man unit initiate a traffic stop on a red Toyota truck with a single occupant.  The truck initially pulled over at Cicero/Higley and our officers made contact with the driver, whom was identified as 37 year-old Rogelio Vargas.  The officers detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the driver to step out of the truck.

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Vargas opened the door as if to get out, but instead shifted into drive and sped off striking our officer with the door and side of truck as he fled.  The officer was able to maintain his footing and get back to his vehicle.  Due to Vargas hitting our officer and the indication he may be impaired, the officers initiated a pursuit, which led them into the neighborhood in this area.

Approximately, one minute later, as the suspect vehicle came back out onto Higley at Adobe, it rolled as Vargas had taken the corner too fast.  Our officers immediately drew their weapons and took him into custody without further incident.  Our officer and Vargas were both seen at the hospital and later released with minor injuries.  

During interview, Vargas stated he did not remember what happened and had used a large amount of illegal drugs that night. He was booked into our jail for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Unlawful Flight.  In addition, Vargas will be charged with DUI Drugs via a long form complaint.

They say football is a game of inches, sometimes so is law enforcement.  Needless to say, we are thankful our officers are okay and no citizens were injured by this suspect's reckless driving.

Suspect Arrested After Breaking In To Mesa Residence

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On 1/18/14 at approximately 5:45 AM, Mesa patrol officers responded to the 4200 block of N. Tabor reference an armed robbery / home invasion. The reporting party called to say that a subject kicked in his front door and was standing inside his house. The suspect said he had a gun, but the RP did not see one. The male then left the home in an unknown direction. 

As responding officers arrived a perimeter was established. An officer on scene advised he could hear glass breaking at a house to the west of the dispatched location in the 4200 block of N. Katmai. As officers were surrounding that house, the suspect came running down the driveway and was placed at gunpoint and taken into custody. A check of that residence found the suspect's wallet in the backyard and his backpack on the upstairs balcony, which can be accessed by stairs at the rear of the home. He was identified as 23 year-old Curtis Archer.

One-on-one identifications were conducted and Archer was positively identified. During interview, Archer stated he was being chased by someone with a shotgun and needed to hide. He also admitted to smoking Methamphetamine earlier in the night.  He was then booked into the Mesa Jail for felony and misdemeanor criminal trespass, 4 counts of disorderly conduct and 2 counts of criminal damage.

Intoxicated Male Points Gun At Police Officers

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On 01/18/2014 at 2117 hours, Mesa patrol officers respond to the 2000 block of  E. Des Moines in an attempt to locate a hit & run suspect in reference to a vehicle collision at Stapley and Southern. When the homeowner, 49 year-old Robert Neilson, answered the door, officers ask him if the hit & run suspect is there. Neilson tells the officers he is there, then takes a step back and pulls a handgun from his waistband, points it at the officers and says “Do you want this?” 

Due to being in such close proximity to Neilson, the officers first reaction was to grab the handgun and turn it away from themselves. A physical struggle for the handgun ensued and an officer was able to get it away from Neilson. The officers took Neilson to the ground, but he continued to physically struggle with the officers. At one point, Neilson was reaching for the handgun which was now on the ground. The officers were eventually able to take Neilson into custody. Robert Neilson was examined / treated at the scene by Mesa Fire paramedics for injuries. Neilson was transported to Banner Desert hospital for further treatment / medical clearance and his level of alcohol intoxication.

One of the officers received minor abrasions to his knees during the struggle. Neilson was booked on two counts of Aggravated Assault on Law enforcement and one count of Resisting Arrest. This was a very dangerous situation that could have ended tragically different for all involved, had it not been for the actions of our officers.

Crime Stats - December 2013

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 12/01/2013 through 12/31/2013.

FIESTA		CENTRAL
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Subjects Disturbing	399	Subjects Disturbing	380
Check Welfare	303	Check Welfare	318
Loud Music/Noise	200	Other Agency Assist	205
Other Agency Assist	155	Suspicious Activity	192
Suspicious Activity	154	Loud Music/Noise	171
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Robbery	1	Homicide	5
Aggravated Assault	9	Rape	1
Breaking & Entering	12	Robbery	5
Theft	80	Aggravated Assault	7
Alcohol/DUI	71	Breaking & Entering	4
Other Assaults	41	Theft	64
Disorderly Conduct	17	GTA	1
Drugs	54	Alcohol/DUI	62
Fiscal/Forgery	16	Other Assaults	41
Loitering/Runaway	2	Disorderly Conduct	41
Vandalism	20	Drugs	51
All Other	135	Fiscal/Forgery	11
		Loitering/Runaway	2
		Sex Offenses	1
		Vandalism	23
		All Other	209
TOTAL	458	TOTAL	528

RED MOUNTAIN		SUPERSTITION
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	362	Check Welfare	341
Subjects Disturbing	357	Subjects Disturbing	231
Loud Music/Noise	253	Burglary Alarm	227
Suspicious Activity	248	Other Agency Assist	212
Burglary Alarm	210	Suspicious Activity	165
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Robbery	2	Robbery	3
Aggravated Assault	8	Aggravated Assault	3
Breaking & Entering	6	Breaking & Entering	3
Theft	71	Theft	113
GTA	4	Alcohol/DUI	48
Alcohol/DUI	62	Other Assaults	24
Other Assaults	34	Disorderly Conduct	15
Disorderly Conduct	21	Drugs	38
Drugs	59	Fiscal/Forgery	10
Fiscal/Forgery	17	Loitering/Runaway	5
Sex Offenses	3	Sex Offenses	4
Vandalism	15	Vandalism	8
All Other	140	All Other	62
TOTAL	442	TOTAL	336

Suspect Arrested After Lurking Around Closed Businesses

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Stopping crime before it happens, or being "proactive" as we say in law enforcement.  That is just what one of our officers was doing at 2 am on January 16th, when he noticed a white Chevy truck trolling the parking lot of closed businesses at Greenfield and McKellips.  Our officer, out of The Red Mountain Patrol District, got into a position where he could watch this individual without being seen.  The truck seemed to amble about the lot, slowing near businesses (which were closed) until it backed into a parking space in front of a Verizon Wireless store.

After only a couple of minutes, inexplicably, the truck drove off at a high rate of speed onto the roadway.  Our officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for a traffic violation and contacted 37 year-old Rafael Luis Valenzuela.  Valenzuela was in possession of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia, for which he was arrested.  Inside the vehicle was a box of latex gloves and numerous tools, to include multiple lock/bolt cutters. 

Valenzuela gave no reason for being in Mesa, at 2 AM, in a parking lot full of closed businesses and gave a Phoenix address as his residence, before refusing further interview. A history check revealed Valenzuela had a criminal history of numerous burglaries in the Phoenix area.  So, a shout out to Officer Stoddard for some excellent, proactive police work. Way to represent brother!!!