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

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.

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

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.