Aggravated Assault - Shoplifting Arrest

On March 17, 2018 a shoplifting occurred at the Bed Bath and Beyond located at 2039 N Power Rd. During that incident a male victim observed store employees chasing the shoplifting suspect who then fled the scene in a silver Nissan Altima. The victim followed the suspect in his own vehicle until the suspect vehicle came to a stop and the suspect exited his car and fired a weapon at the victim striking his vehicle. The victim’s four-year-old daughter was in the vehicle at the time.

The victim stopped following and the suspect got away. Officers responded, and an investigation was initiated. The next day we responded to an unknown trouble call at the Super 8 Motel located at 1550 S Gilbert. A caller was reporting prostitution activity at this location and officers responded to investigate. They observed a silver Nissan backed in to the parking lot with its lights on and a male and female in the vehicle. They approached to speak to the occupants and the female immediately exited the vehicle. The male remained in the vehicle and as officers approached they observed he had a short barrel shotgun resting between his right leg and the vehicle console.

The suspect was asked to step out of the vehicle and when told why officers were in the area he identified himself with a fake name. He was later positively identified as Michael Schturmgeist and was placed under arrest for false reporting. The vehicle was ultimately towed from the scene and during an inventory search, officers located drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers recognized the similarities with this vehicle and the shoplifting incident the day prior and asked Schturmgeist about that incident. Schturmgeist confirmed he was involved in the shoplifting incident and said he was trying to get away from the vehicle that was following him and therefore stopped in the road and fired one round from the shotgun at the vehicle. Both subjects at this scene were not very cooperative and no further evidence of prostitution was observed.

This is a great example of a thorough police investigation and the dangerous nature of our profession. We responded to an unknown trouble call and officers were unknowingly contacting a prohibited possessor who had a weapon with him that had just shot at someone the day prior while committing a crime. Thanks to the officer’s awareness they were able to safely resolve this crime and apprehend a dangerous criminal.

Schturmgeist has been charged with multiple offenses stemming from both incidents to include: two counts of Aggravated Assault, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, theft, and false reporting to law enforcement.