Help Identify Homicide Suspect

The Mesa Police Department is asking for public assistance in the identification and location of a Homicide Suspect.

On October 29, 2018 between 7:30-7:45 AM an unknown male entered the Mi Pueblo Mercado, 103 W. 8th Ave, and attacked the employee. After the attack, the suspect removed items from behind the counter before leaving the area on foot.  There were no witnesses located.  The victim employee was later discovered deceased inside the store.  The motive appears to be Robbery.

The suspect appears to be an adult male with grey hair, wearing a red hoodie, blue jeans and white shoes.  

If you recognize the suspect in video, you are asked to call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor - Arrest

In June 2018, the Mesa Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit became aware of an individual who was uploading and downloading known images and videos depicting minors being sexually exploited. The investigation revealed these images were being downloaded at 533 W Guadalupe Road #1091. On October 30, 2018 a search warrant was served at this address and several computers and cellphones were seized. Initial previews of the seized equipment shows filenames consistent with child pornography. The defendant was identified as Bryan Vo and he admitted to downloading images and videos of sexual exploitation of a minor onto his desktop computer. Probable Cause was developed to charge Vo with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Vo was booked into county jail on the above listed charges.

Crime Stats - September 2018

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 09/01/2018 through 09/30/2018. 

To see which district you are in, click on each individual district listed at left to see their map.
 

FIESTA		CENTRAL
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	426	Check Welfare	438
Subjects Disturbing	322	Subjects Disturbing	376
Trespass	200	Trespass	257
Other Agency Assist	186	Warrant Arrest	240
Burglary Alarm	185	Other Agency Assist	192
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Homicide	0	Homicide	0
Rape	0	Rape	1
Robbery	0	Robbery	3
Aggravated Assault	0	Aggravated Assault	16
Breaking & Entering	1	Breaking & Entering	12
Theft	19	Theft	70
GTA	5	GTA	2
Alcohol/DUI	35	Alcohol/DUI	47
Other Assaults	4	Other Assaults	43
Disorderly Conduct	43	Disorderly Conduct	32
Drugs	38	Drugs	75
Fiscal/Forgery	26	Fiscal/Forgery	12
Loitering/Runaway	4	Loitering/Runaway	9
Sex Offenses	3	Sex Offenses	2
Vandalism	20	Vandalism	19
All Other	198	All Other	241
TOTAL	466	TOTAL	584

RED MOUNTAIN		SUPERSTITION
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	422	Check Welfare	370
Subjects Disturbing	312	Burglary Alarm	243
Other Agency Assist	190	Subjects Disturbing	238
Burglary Alarm	178	Other Agency Assist	201
Suspicious Activity	148	Trespass	148
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Homicide	0	Homicide	0
Rape	1	Rape	0
Robbery	1	Robbery	0
Aggravated Assault	10	Aggravated Assault	4
Breaking & Entering	8	Breaking & Entering	5
Theft	25	Theft	52
GTA	2	GTA	1
Alcohol/DUI	24	Alcohol/DUI	22
Other Assaults	30	Other Assaults	24
Disorderly Conduct	11	Disorderly Conduct	15
Drugs	59	Drugs	44
Fiscal/Forgery	5	Fiscal/Forgery	10
Loitering/Runaway	0	Loitering/Runaway	2
Sex Offenses	0	Sex Offenses	0
Vandalism	16	Vandalism	8
All Other	111	All Other	98
TOTAL	303	TOTAL	285

Officer Involved Shooting - Update

On 9/14/18 a Mesa Police officer was on patrol when he encountered David Huffines. Upon making contact with Mr. Huffines, he pulled a weapon on our officer, similar to the one depicted in the image, a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Fearing for his life, our officer pulled his service weapon and fired at Mr. Huffines. Our Officer created distance and retreated to a position of cover away from Mr. Huffines. Our officer lost sight of Mr. Huffines near the front of the officer’s police car. A very short time later, our officer heard a gunshot from the area of the police car. Preliminary information is that Mr. Huffines had 6 entry wounds. Additionally, there was one small caliber wound to the right side of the suspect’s head with an exit wound on the left side. The powder burns and residue at the entry wound indicate this wound was likely self-inflicted. An expended .25 caliber casing was located near the weapon.

We are grateful that our officer survived this deadly encounter; he showed courage and perseverance, this tragic event serves as an example of the dangers associated with protecting our communities. The investigation is on-going, we will update as new information becomes available.

Not the actual suspect weapon

Operation Degrossting - Child Sex Crimes Arrests

Mesa Police Detectives partnered with Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler Police Departments as well as the Attorney General’s Office for Operation Degrossting, an undercover operation targeting the demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking. Over 6 days officers and undercover detectives 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 subsequently arrested.

Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels child and human sex trafficking from our community. The suspects in the latest operation ranged in age from 21 to 80 years old. "Crimes involving children are of the highest priority and I appreciate our partnership with all the agencies involved in the successful removal of these dangerous child predators from our community" said Chief Ramon Batista.

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, Empire Southwest, and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) 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

Attempt to Identify - Commercial Burglary Suspects

Do you know these two men?

On 8/4/18 at about 2:45 pm the two subjects pictured above entered the Shell convenience store at 1158 W University Dr in Mesa with a milk crate and a backpack. Both subjects walked around the front counter and began loading the milk crate and backpack with cigarettes and E cigarettes before leaving eastbound through the parking lot. Customers informed the store manager that both males frequent the area.

Suspect 1 was described as a Black Male in his late 20's with a goatee, wearing a black sleeveless AZ Cardinals shirt, black basketball shorts, a navy blue bandana around his neck, blue nitrile gloves, sunglasses, and a light blue San Diego Chargers hat.

Suspect 2 was a Hispanic Male in his mid to late 20's with a goatee, wearing a Chicago bulls hat, a white tee shirt, khaki shorts, sunglasses, a black backpack, with a sleeve tattoo on his left arm.

If you have any information or can help us identify these two subjects please contact Mesa Police Detective Elliff at 480-644-5929

Crime State - August 2018

The following are the top 5 calls for service and arrests for each patrol district -- 08/01/2018 through 08/31/2018. 

To see which district you are in, click on each individual district listed at left to see their map.
 

FIESTA		CENTRAL
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	470	Check Welfare	470
Subjects Disturbing	367	Subjects Disturbing	400
Burglary Alarm	215	Trespass	287
Other Agency Assist	204	Warrant Arrest	270
Trespass	204	Burglary Alarm	192
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Homicide	0	Homicide	0
Rape	0	Rape	2
Robbery	0	Robbery	8
Aggravated Assault	10	Aggravated Assault	12
Breaking & Entering	12	Breaking & Entering	10
Theft	34	Theft	47
GTA	4	GTA	1
Alcohol/DUI	48	Alcohol/DUI	56
Other Assaults	51	Other Assaults	24
Disorderly Conduct	20	Disorderly Conduct	19
Drugs	72	Drugs	92
Fiscal/Forgery	14	Fiscal/Forgery	10
Loitering/Runaway	1	Loitering/Runaway	6
Sex Offenses	2	Sex Offenses	10
Vandalism	19	Vandalism	18
All Other	212	All Other	234
TOTAL	499	TOTAL	549

RED MOUNTAIN		SUPERSTITION
Call Type	Frequency	Call Type	Frequency
Check Welfare	417	Check Welfare	426
Subjects Disturbing	293	Burglary Alarm	304
Burglary Alarm	259	Subjects Disturbing	248
Other Agency Assist	179	Other Agency Assist	212
Civil Matter	156	Civil Matter	165
Arrests	Frequency	Arrests	Frequency
Homicide	0	Homicide	1
Rape	0	Rape	2
Robbery	2	Robbery	3
Aggravated Assault	11	Aggravated Assault	5
Breaking & Entering	4	Breaking & Entering	6
Theft	30	Theft	44
GTA	1	GTA	2
Alcohol/DUI	21	Alcohol/DUI	38
Other Assaults	25	Other Assaults	22
Disorderly Conduct	15	Disorderly Conduct	15
Drugs	58	Drugs	22
Fiscal/Forgery	15	Fiscal/Forgery	10
Loitering/Runaway	1	Loitering/Runaway	1
Sex Offenses	0	Sex Offenses	3
Vandalism	20	Vandalism	16
All Other	105	All Other	96
TOTAL	308	TOTAL	286