Robbery Suspect Caught Running out of Check Cashing Store

On 9/27/2017 at 2am, Officers were dispatched to the Check Cashing business at 1210 S. Country Club in reference to a panic alarm. The Security Company advised they could see an unknown male inside the store. Before any further information could be obtained, Officer Williams who was approaching the business as the call came out, observed a male subject exit from the business headed towards Southern Ave. Officer Williams identified himself and told the subject to stop. The subject fled north into the traffic lanes of Southern Ave. Officer Williams gave chase and tackling the subject as they entered the westbound lanes of Country Club. Other officers arrived to assist and the suspect was detained. Speaking with the employee in the business, the suspect, Luke Upton had come into the business simulating that he had a weapon and demanding money. She hit the alarm and the suspect ran out of the store and into the arriving officers.


The suspect was taken into custody and will be charged with armed robbery for implying he had a weapon, resisting arrest for running from police and not complying while being handcuffed and criminal damage.

Suspect Luke Upton

Murder Suspect Charged

On September 25, 2017, at approximately 11:30 pm Mesa Police responded to 24 East 14th Street, Unit 2, in Mesa for a shooting call. Upon arrival Officers made contact with an adult male later identified as 54 year old Alvin Johnson Jr, who had his hands up and was repeatedly saying “I did it, arrest me”. A deceased adult female was located inside the residence. She has been identified as 53 year old Michelle Lynne Johnson, Alvin’s wife. Other adult family members were present during the incident and witnesses stated he was heard saying “I killed her” and “Im going to prison, call the cops”.

Alvin provided contradictory statements to officers on scene saying he did not mean to kill her. He also stated he had been drinking at the football game and when he returned home and was getting into bed, the gun went off striking her. Some of his statements indicated she was awake at the time and others that she was sleeping when the incident occurred. He said that drinking may have impaired his memory of what happened and acknowledged he was recklessly handling the gun. Alvin was charged with one count of Second Degree Murder.

Child Sex Trafficking Arrests

Mesa Police Detectives in the Human Exploitation and Tracking Unit (HEaT) at the Mesa Family Advocacy Center completed a 5-month sexual exploitation and trafficking case resulting in the arrest of Oshay Small, age 24, and Cornelius Wells, age 21, for multiple counts of child sex trafficking and other related crimes.

The suspects initially contacted the first victims, 15-year-old females, through Facebook and began exploiting them about four days later. The victims left home and were reported as runaways while they were being exploited. During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned about an additional juvenile female and two adult females being exploited. Some of the victims were transported to Tucson, AZ and El Paso, TX.

The suspects used Backpage.com to advertise and locate commercial sex buyers and received the proceeds from exploiting the victims.

Detectives located the suspects at a hotel near Metro Center Mall in Phoenix. The suspects were taken into custody by Mesa PD SWAT and Detectives. An adult female victim was with the suspects at the time of arrest.

In Arizona, the average age of a victim entering into sex trafficking is 14-years old. The victimization and trauma of sex trafficking alters the lives of our victimized women and children. We as a society must act to end the victimization of women – especially our young women. 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

The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked.

Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation was crucial to the success of this investigation.



Oshay Small, Age 24

Charges:
• 3 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Using Minor for Prostitution
(ARS 13-3212A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Sex Trafficking (ARS 13-1307A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 3 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Enticing and Transporting
(ARS 13-3212A5, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Receive Proceeds from Juveniles (ARS 13-2312C, Class 3 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Receiving Earnings of Prostitution – Adults
(ARS 13-3204, Class 5 Felony)
• 1 Count of Illegal Control of an Enterprise
(ARS 13-2312A, Class 3 Felony)

Oshay Small is being held at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Jail on $75,000 bond.




Cornelius Small, Age 21

Charges:
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Using Minor for Prostitution
(ARS 13-3212A2, Class 2 Felony)
• 2 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking – Enticing and Transporting
(ARS 13-3212A5, Class 2 Felony)

Cornelius Wells is being held at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Jail on $50,000 bond.

Help Identify Robbery Suspect

Date: 09/25/2017
Time: 2:35pm                                                                
DR# 20172680495


Incident Location:  6015 E. Brown (CVS)

On the above date and time, the subject enters the store and walks directly to the deodorant where he makes a selection and walks to the counter. The male presents a $5 bill for payment for the deodorant he brought to the counter, but as soon the register opened to get the change, the subject reached over the counter and into the register saying, "Give me all the money!" while taking the $20`s.

The victim stated the male also removed a spray deodorant from his pocket and attempted to spray him in the face while taking the money, but missed.

Suspect(s): White male in his 20`s, average height, approximately 190 lbs with short blond hair and a short beard. The male was wearing a loose blue long sleeved t-shirt and dark jeans.

If you can help identify this suspect, please contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.