Residential Burglary in the Dobson/Baseline Area

Between Thursday, March 13 at 12:00 pm and Friday, March 14 at 5:30 pm, forced entry was made into a home in the area of 1400 West Kiowa Avenue. Several items were taken -- TV, computers, camera, gaming systems and an Apple Macbook Pro. On Saturday, March 15, the suspect went into an Apple store, presented the laptop as his own and attempted to have the password reset. When the request was denied, the suspect left with the laptop in a silver Chrysler 300 with dark tinted windows.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 20 years old, 5'8" to 5'10" tall, medium build, short black hair, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with tan pants and black tennis shoes.

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 Mesa PD report number 20140730530. Silent Witness is offering a reward. You can contact them with any information at 480-948-6377 or www.silentwitness.org and refer to media case #2014-1738.

Attempt To Identify Felony Shoplift Suspect

On March 1 at 7:35 pm, the suspect in the photos below entered the Kohl's at 5833 E. McKellips Road and attempted to steal over $2,000 in merchandise. The vehicle involved, a white Crown Victoria, was not registered to this subject.

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 report number 20140600566.

Arsons in East Mesa

Your Mesa Police Detectives out of the Superstition District are investigating a string of arson incidents that occurred over the St. Patty's Day weekend at the Los Palmas Mobile Home Community near Ellsworth and Baseline.

Anyone with information about these incidents are asked to call The Mesa Police Department @ 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness @ 480-WITNESS.

Traffic Fatality

On March 12 at 2:25 pm, one of our detectives came across an accident that had just occurred in the eastbound lanes of University, just east of Alma School. She saw a damaged scooter and person laying in the roadway, immediately alerted dispatch of the accident and began life saving efforts on the victim, who ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was later identified as 22-year-old Mason Merrill. Witnesses to the accident provided details to the detective about the other vehicle involved which had fled the scene, describing it as on older lifted blue truck. The detective immediately broadcast the description of this vehicle, which was located by another officer who followed it to a residence in the 1300 block of West 7th Avenue in Mesa.

Our investigation to this point has indicated the scooter was traveling east on University from Alma School when the collision occurred. The truck, driven by a 15-year-old Hispanic male and occupied by three other juveniles, was facing west in the left hand turn lane, directly across from the Jack In The Box entrance. Witnesses indicate the truck turned left to enter the private drive, crossing the eastbound lanes, when it was struck by the scooter. After the collision, the truck continued into the private drive and stopped. Witness testimony indicates the occupants exited the truck and ran over to the victim, but then returned to the truck and left the scene.

Initial statements at the residence, damage to the truck and at least one witness identification indicates the truck located was involved and the 15-year-old juvenile identified was the driver. The suspect, whom possessed only a learner’s permit, would later invoke his rights during interview and was returned to the custody of his parents along with his 14-year-old sister, believed to be one of the other passengers. We are still investigating and need to identify and interview the other juvenile passengers of the truck.

This is a failure to yield scenario. Pending completion of our investigation, a submittal for Leaving the Scene of a Fatality (among other civil traffic violations) will be made to the Juvenile Maricopa County Attorney’s Office regarding our 15 year-old suspect.

Media Release - Public Assistance Needed to Help Identify Indecent Exposure Suspect

The Mesa Police Department is seeking any assistance to help identify a suspect in several Indecent Exposure incidents. The incidents began in January 2012 and the most recent event was in February 2014.

The suspect, at times, has gone more than a year between offenses. In January 2012, Mesa Police investigated an attempted Sexual Assault in the area of Longmore and Southern in west Mesa.

The suspect was described as a thin black male in his 20's, approximately 5'8 to 6'2 with curly dark hair. The suspect gained access to the victim's apartment, but fled before completing the sexual assault. Since that time, there have been several reports of a similar suspect exposing himself and masturbating in front of women in various apartment complexes in the same area. Two of the victims have been able to provide information for composite pictures.

Mesa detectives have been working the case, but at this point have not been able to identify a suspect. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211, option 2,  or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

Laser Strikes - Public Service Announcement

Do you know what happens when you point a laser at an aircraft? Find the answer to this question and what you can be charged with if you point a laser at an aircraft in this PSA from Phoenix PD, the FAA and the FBI. In Mesa, call 480-644-2211, option 2, to report this type of activity.

Crime Stats - February 2014

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 02/01/2014 through 02/28/2014. FIESTA CENTRAL Call Type Frequency Call Type Frequency Subjects Disturbing 358 Check Welfare 343 Check Welfare 327 Subjects Disturbing 325 Other Agency Assist 191 Other Agency Assist 165 Loud Music/Noise 163 Warrant Arrest 161 Suspicious Activity 124 Suspicious Activity 140 Arrests Frequency Arrests Frequency Homicide 1 Homicide 1 Rape 1 Rape 2 Robbery 3 Robbery 4 Aggravated Assault 6 Aggravated Assault 13 Breaking & Entering 6 Breaking & Entering 4 Theft 48 Theft 61 GTA 2 GTA 1 Alcohol/DUI 44 Alcohol/DUI 41 Other Assaults 34 Other Assaults 52 Disorderly Conduct 19 Disorderly Conduct 25 Drugs 48 Drugs 59 Fiscal/Forgery 11 Fiscal/Forgery 18 Loitering/Runaway 3 Loitering/Runaway 5 Vandalism 8 Sex Offenses 1 All Other 150 Vandalism 19 All Other 211  TOTAL 384 TOTAL 517 RED MOUNTAIN SUPERSTITION Call Type Frequency Call Type Frequency Check Welfare 337 Check Welfare 282 Subjects Disturbing 286 Other Agency Assist 189 Suspicious Activity 215 Subjects Disturbing 181 Burglary Alarm 195 Suspicious Activity 150 Other Agency Assist 193 Burglary Alarm 142 Arrests Frequency Arrests Frequency Homicide 1 Homicide 1 Robbery 1 Robbery 2 Aggravated Assault 5 Aggravated Assault 7 Breaking & Entering 6 Breaking & Entering 6 Theft 63 Theft 77 GTA 3 GTA 2 Alcohol/DUI 48 Alcohol/DUI 31 Other Assaults 38 Other Assaults 23 Disorderly Conduct 25 Disorderly Conduct 7 Drugs 75 Drugs 24 Fiscal/Forgery 11 Fiscal/Forgery 4 Loitering/Runaway 7 Loitering/Runaway 1 Vandalism 23 Sex Offenses 1 All Other 116 Vandalism 12 All Other 75 TOTAL 422 TOTAL 273