Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement - Arrest

Every year in the U.S., about 150 police officers are killed in the line of duty. Every day, 150 officers are assaulted and 10 are shot at. Nationally, being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop is the leading cause of death for peace officers over the past decade, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. In the past decade, 126 officers have lost their lives being struck by a vehicle.

On March 16, 2018 at approximately 3 am, a Mesa Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for driving with no head lights on. The vehicle came to a stop at 800 S Elm and the single occupant driver identified herself verbally as Joy McAllester. The officer used the information provided during the stop to learn that the driver was, in fact, 21 year old Jaquetta McAllister and had a suspended license and an active warrant from the City of Phoenix. When the officer returned to the vehicle to contact McAllister and attempt to detain her, she placed the vehicle in drive and fled at a high rate of speed. The fleeing vehicle struck the officer’s right arm and the open door struck his left hand. Fortunately, he did not suffer injuries from this encounter.

This incident demonstrates how quickly a scene can go from a civil traffic stop to a misdemeanor criminal situation to a serious felony, placing an officer at great risk of injury in just a few seconds. McAllister was later contacted at a known residence, where she was hiding under a bathroom sink. She continued to attempt to resist arrest until she was handcuffed and detained. McAllister has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement, False Reporting, Driving on a Suspended License, Reckless Driving and Driving without Headlights.