Mesa Police Department Awarded 5 GOHS Grants for FY2021

 

Mesa Police Department Awarded 5 GOHS Grants for FY2021

The Mesa Police Department (MPD) Traffic Section was formally awarded six Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) grants for FY2021. The following grants will support MPD’s commitment to DUI enforcement and promoting safe roadways. The MPD received the following grant awards for FY2021:

 

·         DUI Abatement Grant Program: $50,000  (August 2020 – June 2021)

o   Support police personnel services overtime

o   DUI task force events

o   Support training and education to combat impaired driving (HGN, ARIDE, DRE Schools)

 

·         DUI Enforcement Overtime, Materials and Supplies: $123,569.00

o   Major holiday task force

o   DUI enforcement related to patrol district projects

o   Support training and education to combat impaired driving (HGN, ARIDE, DRE Schools)

o   Drug testing kits and portable breath test machines and

 

·         Selective Traffic Enforcement Overtime, Materials and Supplies: $86,218

o   Back to School enforcement

o   Speed enforcement

o   Speed detection devices

 

·         Occupant Protection Overtime, Materials & Supplies: $20,660

o   Child Safety Seat Education and Enforcement

o   Child Safety Seats/boosters

 

·         Pedestrian & Bicyclist Focus Education & Enforcement Efforts - $33,262

o   Education and enforcement of pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver violations affecting the safety of pedestrians/bicyclists

 

·         Accident Investigation Training: $9,030

o   Collision reconstruction training courses

 

 

GOHS is fundamental in the progress, direction and advancement in public safety programs throughout the state of Arizona. To accomplish set goals, GOHS awards grant funding to various law enforcement agencies, including fire departments and non-profit organizations. GOHS plays a critical role in maintaining safe roadways for its citizens.    

Mesa PD would like to extend its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for their continual support. GOHS allows for the success of City of Mesa safe streets and its citizens.

For more information about GOHS: https://www.azgohs.gov/

Murder Suspect Arrested

On December 16, 2020 just after 01:21am, an off-duty officer was told by two witnesses that a man had just been stabbed in the roadway near 200 S. Mesa Dr.  The witnesses described the suspect and said that he left the area going eastbound. 

Patrol officers responded and found the victim lying on the sidewalk, heavily bleeding.  They discovered the male had been stabbed multiple times throughout his body.  He was immediately transported to the hospital, where he later died just hours after the attack. 

During the investigation, officers spoke to Ramon Polk, who was waiting with the victim when officers arrived.  Ramon told officers that he knew the victim but was not with him when he was stabbed.  He was released from the scene without further information.

Well, additional information came in the from of video surveillance.  After canvassing the area for evidence, detectives located video surveillance from a local business that put the suspect and victim together prior to the stabbing. 

The suspect in the video was wearing an identifiable jacket; one that had lighter colored sleeves.  The same jacket that Ramon had been wearing when he was contacted earlier by officers. 

After realizing the murder suspect was Ramon, Detectives located him in an alleyway close to the crime scene. 

Ramon was arrested and confessed to Detectives that he did stab the victim.  He said that the victim threw a can of beer at his wife, so he followed him to scare him off.

Ramon was booked into jail for one count of 2^nd Degree Murder (ARS 13-1104.A2).

Conspiracy to Commit Murder Multiple Arrests

On November 18^th 2020, Gustavo Trevino, Orlando Reyes, and Albert Carrillo were all arrested for multiple charges stemming from a several months long investigation.  

In August 2020, Mesa Detectives saw photographic evidence (open to the public) on Trevino’s Social Media pages indicating he may be in possession of firearms. Trevino is a prohibited possessor and this opened an investigation which led to a search warrant that provided detectives with thousands of pages of Trevino’s conversations. The conversations pointed to Trevino being a high-ranking gang member of the gang “Savage Murder Crime Family 451z”. The search warrant suggested evidence of weapon possession and a plot to commit armed robbery and murder.

Undercover detectives made contact with Trevino and initiated conversation that furthered this investigation. Trevino and Reyes made numerous statements to undercover detectives leading to the charges listed below. Trevino told undercover detectives his plan to murder two different individuals and his desire to commit armed robbery and murder for hire. A murder for hire plan was conceived that involved Trevino and Reyes committing an armed robbery in exchange for the murder of the two people Trevino wanted to kill.

After numerous exchanges with the undercover detectives Trevino and Reyes and a third suspect named Albert Carrillo were arrested and have been charged with multiple felonies.

 

Gustavo Trevino has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang, Assisting a Criminal Street Gang, Narcotics for Sale, Dangerous Drugs for Sale, and Misconduct involving Weapons.

Orlando Reyes has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang, Assisting a Criminal Street Gang, Narcotics for Sale, Dangerous Drugs for Sale, and Misconduct involving Weapons.

 Albert Carrillo has been charged with Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Participating in a Street Gang, and Assisting a Criminal Street Gang

 

We are proud of the hard work and dedication of all involved in this investigation. The suspects listed above have been charged and are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Albert Carrillo

Gustavo Trevino

Orlando Reyes

 

Attempt to Identify - Commercial Burglary Suspect

On September 28th at approximately 6:00 pm two suspects entered the Circle K at 330 E Broadway Rd and walked directly behind the counter where they removed a large quantity of cigarettes. They placed the cigarettes into a plastic bag they brought with them into the store. The suspects were seen on camera leaving eastbound through the Allied Surplus parking lot. We are asking the community to help us identify the suspects. 

Su1- White male, 18-25 years old, tattoo along upper and lower right forearm, tattoo along bottom left forearm, wearing “Black Lives Matter” tee shirt, black AZ Cardinals hat, carrying a yellow JanSport backpack.

Su2- Unknown race male, 18-25 years old, wearing a flannel shirt, dark shorts, carrying a multi-colored backpack.

Contact Info: Please contact Detective A. Elliff 18343 at 480-431-9354 with information.

Four Adults arrested after armed robbery spree and murder.

 (Mesa, AZ. October 28, 2020)

Mesa Police Detectives arrested four adults connected to a string of crimes including armed robbery and the murder of 38-year-old Brandon Van. The suspects were identified as:

Jaquan Jaheem Bailey (18-years-old),

Stephon Mitchell (18-years-old),

Vincent Culbreath (38-years-old) and

Ashley Herrell (37-years-old).

The first incident occurred at a convenience store called, “In the Zone”, 1163 W Broadway in Mesa. While the three men were inside the store, Culbreath stole two bottles of alcohol. When a clerk attempted to stop him, Culbreath displayed a handgun.

Soon after, around 12pm, Bailey, Mitchell, Culbreath, and Herrell were in the area of 1700 W. Bentley in Mesa when they stopped to talk to Brandon Van, appearing to ask him for directions. Van then walked away. Surveillance video shows Culbreath contact Van again and try to rob him. The three men chased Van while firing shots. Van tried to hide in the neighborhood behind a planter. Van eventually surrendered his backpack as the suspects shot at him. Van was then physically assaulted and shot multiple times at close range, killing him. The suspects ran back to the vehicle and fled the area.

The suspects then went to another area in east Mesa where they stole four tires from outside a home. The four suspects next went to the town of Guadalupe, where they attempted a third armed robbery. In Guadalupe, a woman intervened and was subsequently shot. She is in critical condition but expected to survive.

The group’s final stop was in Phoenix, where they had an argument over a gun. Shots were fired, police were called, and they were arrested. Additional charges are pending regarding the series of crimes that occurred before and after the murder. All four were booked into jail on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges.

Vincent Culbreath

Stephon Mitchell

Jaquan Jaheem Bailey

Ashley Herrell

4 DAY CRIME SPREE ENDS WITH 19 FELONY CHARGES/ 6 CASES CLOSED

 

The Mesa Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and East Valley Wanted Offender Task Force located violent offender, 34yo Guillermo Reyes, at a hotel in Chandler.  With the assistance of Chandler Police Department’s Robbery/ Homicide Unit and SWAT team, Guillermo was taken into custody and booked for 19 felony charges.  Guillermo went on a four-day crime spree that affected the City of Mesa and Chandler to include multiple Armed Robberies, Stolen Vehicles, and Aggravated Assaults.  The crimes occurred between September 29- October 2, finally ending with Guillermo being arrested in Chandler on October 9, 2020.  The arrest of Guillermo Reyes brought a close to 6 open cases.   

It all started on September 29, 2020 around 6:46pm when Guillermo opened fire on two victims outside Diamond Sport’s Grill located at 161 N. Centennial Way in Mesa.  At least 12 rounds were fired at the victims, who were seated in their vehicle.  Both victims suffered minor grazing wounds.  Neither victim knew why they were fired upon or what might have precipitated the suspect’s actions.                                                                                                                                    

Witnesses described the shooter as a short, stocky Hispanic male wearing a blue LA Dodgers baseball cap and fleeing in a black Cadillac Escalade. 

Around 7:13pm, Guillermo robbed a third victim at gunpoint and took their purple Mercedes C320.  The robbery occurred at 1233 N. Mesa Dr in Mesa.  It was at this location that police found the black Cadillac Escalade abandoned.

While taking the stolen vehicle report, police were approached by three more victims.  They were working on a Ford Escape in the parking lot that would not start. Guillermo initially approached them and tried to rob them at gunpoint, but when told the vehicle would not start, he walked away. He took the Mercedes shortly after this event.

At 8:11pm.  Guillermo robbed Tom’s BBQ located at 5005 E. McKellips Rd in Mesa at knife point, making this business and employee his seventh and eighth victims. 

The night ended at 11:57pm when officers were dispatched to an abandoned vehicle in the intersection of Guadalupe/ Springwood in Mesa.  The vehicle was found to be the stolen Mercedes C320.  It was unoccupied and out of fuel.  Inside the vehicle were discarded food containers from Tom’s BBQ as well as Guillermo’s fingerprints.

On October 1, 2020 around 6:34pm, Guillermo robbed a ninth victim at gunpoint and took their GMC Sierra pickup truck.  The robbery occurred in the 200 block of E. Grandview in Mesa.  At the time of the robbery, Guillermo placed a backpack in the bed of the truck.  Unbeknownst to him, there was a hole in the bed and the backpack fell to the ground.  Inside the backpack was a blue LA Dodgers baseball cap.

On October 2, 2020 around 4:19pm, the stolen GMC Sierra was recovered in the 500 block of W. Erie in Chandler after being abandoned.  Fingerprints belonging to Guillermo were found inside. 

A short time later, Guillermo robbed a tenth victim on the same street at gunpoint.  He forced the victim inside his home and made him take off his clothes.  Guillermo took off his own clothes and put on the victim’s clothing, which included a camouflage shirt.  He left his clothes behind and fled in the victim’s blue Ford Mustang.

Next, Guillermo went to a Fry’s Grocery Store located at 1950 W. Ray Rd in Chandler.  Here, he robbed an eleventh victim at gunpoint.  He stole their silver Jeep Grand Cherokee and then fled into Mesa.

As the day continued, around 4:53pm, Guillermo ran into a twelfth victim’s garage in the 2100 block of S. Catarina in Mesa.  He stole their Infiniti Q40 at gunpoint.  The victim stated the suspect was wearing a camouflage shirt.  The Jeep Grand Cherokee was left at the scene as Guillermo fled in a new stolen vehicle.

On October 4, 2020, the Infiniti Q40 was recovered at the Tempe Marketplace.  Guillermo’s fingerprints were found in the vehicle along with the camouflage shirt belonging to the victim of the blue Ford Mustang and a receipt for Walgreens.  Video surveillance from the Walgreens showed a male subject wearing the camouflage shirt entering the store after the robbery.

This victim reported numerous credit cards stolen at the time Guillermo took the Infiniti Q40, two of which were used on at least three occasions after the robbery. 

On October 6, 2020, one of the card’s was used at a Fry’s Grocery Store in Scottsdale.  Video from that Fry’s shows Guillermo making a purchase. 

Guillermo was located by the Major Crimes Unit and East Valley Wanted Offender Task Force around 11:00pm on October 8, 2020.  He barricaded in a hotel room in Chandler. Chandler Police’s SWAT team responded, and Guillermo surrendered to them around 1:30am on October 9, 2020.  A search warrant was executed on Guillermo’s hotel room and police recovered a handgun loaded with red tipped ammunition.  This ammunition matched a live round found at the scene of the shooting at Diamond Sport’s Grill.

Guillermo was booked into Mesa City Jail for 19 felony charges.  The cases and charges are as follows:

DR 2020-28183

A.R.S. 13-1204A2 Aggravated Assault (x2), C3F

A.R.S. 13-3102A4 Misconduct w/ Weapons, C4F

DR 2020-28199

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

DR 2020-28229

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

DR 2020-29601

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

DR 2020-103590 (Chandler PD)

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery (x2), C2F

A.R.S. 13-1508A 1^st Degree Burglary, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1304A3 Kidnapping, C4F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means (x2), C3F

DR 2020-30210

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1508A 1^st Degree Burglary, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

A.R.S. 13-2102A1 Theft of a Credit Card, C5F

Maricopa County Warrant CR 2019-103257

 

Mesa Police want to thank all the extremely observant victims and witnesses, the meticulous Crime Scene Specialists, and especially the Chandler Police Department for helping us arrest a tremendously violent offender.  It is because of YOU that our agency was proudly able to make this announcement. 

 

Homicide (Road Rage) - Arrest

    On January 11^th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives responded to a hit and run incident at 825 S Alma School in Mesa. Victim 1 and Victim 2 were traveling together in their vehicle when a road rage incident occurred, and Victim 2 was purposely run over by the suspect.     

    The investigation revealed the defendant (later identified as Frank Lawrence) was driving a white Dodge Ram pickup truck northbound on Alma School from Southern when he drifted into the Victim’s lane causing Victim 1 to honk at the Lawrence. Lawrence began to drive erratically moving in and out of three lanes of traffic causing Victim 2 to use his cell phone to record the incident.

    Victim 1 drove her vehicle into the apartment complex driveway at 825 S Alma School where Lawrence followed and eventually confronted Victim 1 while she was sitting in her vehicle. Lawrence punched Victim 1 through the open car window causing Victim 2 to exit his vehicle and video record Lawrence and his vehicle for evidence. Lawrence then fled the scene as Victim 2 ran after to record the license plate of the vehicle. Victim 2 ran into the roadway on Alma School as Lawrence sped away and then abruptly did a u-turn and drove past Victim 2 and then turned again intentionally driving right at Victim 2 striking him with the vehicle.

    Lawrence made no attempt to stop and fled the scene. Victim 2 was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Victim 2 has been identified as 22 year old James Ackerman Jr.

    Investigators were able to use cell phone footage from Ackerman, Surveillance footage from the area, and multiple investigative tools to obtain search warrants and ultimately identify Lawrence as the driver that day. This investigation and subsequent arrest are the direct result of hours of committed investigation by multiple individuals and units within the Mesa Police Department.

    Frank Lawrence was booked and charged on 09/30/2020 with one count of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Leaving the scene of a fatal accident. 

Hit and Run - Arrest

On September 29^th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives responded to a hit and run incident at 1811 S Alma School in Mesa. An 81 year old male, later identified as Larry Lans, was struck and killed as he walked on the sidewalk.   

The investigation revealed the defendant (later identified as Joseph Eckert) was driving a silver Ford Ranger northbound on Alma School from Baseline when for unknown reasons he left the roadway and drove onto the sidewalk colliding with a water meter valve, Mr Lans, and an SRP electrical box. After the collision he immediately reversed into the roadway and fled southbound on Alma School in the northbound lanes.

Investigators were able to locate nearby surveillance footage that allowed them to positively identify the make and model of the vehicle along with a license plate that returned to a Ford Ranger. Through investigative efforts and with the assistance of undercover officers, the vehicle was located in Tempe and the owner was contacted. The vehicle owner was interviewed, and he identified Eckert (an acquaintance) as the driver on the day of the incident.

Eckert was contacted and interviewed and initially denied any involvement. He later confessed to driving the vehicle at the time of the incident and admitted to striking the power box but claimed he had no knowledge of striking a pedestrian.

We appreciate the sense of urgency and dedication by all the officers and detectives involved in this investigation and are grateful for their excellent teamwork to resolve this investigation so quickly.

Eckert has been booked and charged with one count of Failing to Stop for a Fatality Collision.

Chief Ken Cost statement reference the 9/25/20 Mesa PD - Officer Involved Shooting in Tempe

 

The following statement is from Chief Ken Cost reference the 9/25/20 Mesa PD - Officer Involved Shooting in Tempe:

The death of Angel Benitez is tragic and we offer our deepest condolences to his family.

 On 09/25/20 at approximately 0927 hours, Mesa Police Officers were dispatched to 921 North Dobson to check on the welfare of a subject passed out while behind the wheel of a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers learned that the vehicle was reported stolen. It was later determined that the vehicle was stolen from a residence in Mesa approximately 3 weeks earlier. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and began giving commands to the driver to exit the vehicle. High risk traffic stops are conducted in situations where the danger for officers and nearby citizens is high and extra precautions are taken in an attempt to detain the driver as safely as possible.

 The driver, later identified as Angel Benitez, woke up as officers began giving commands. Benitez refused to comply with the officers’ request to surrender peacefully. He endangered the officers and the public when he drove away, actively evading their attempt to detain him safely. The Mesa Police Air Unit observed the vehicle as it traveled into Tempe and parked in a nearby housing complex. Undercover detectives were nearby conducting a separate investigation and responded to assist due to Benitez’ active attempts to evade officers. Multiple officers arrived on scene to attempt to detain Benitez and a Mesa Police Hostage Negotiator was giving surrender instructions when Benitez dropped his hands out of their view and towards his waistband resulting in an officer involved shooting.

 The Tempe Police Department is conducting a thorough, fact-based, investigation into this officer involved shooting and that investigation will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. At the same time, the Mesa Police Department is conducting an internal investigation and as per standard policy, the officers involved are on administrative leave. We remain committed to being transparent and will share further information as it becomes available.

 The decision to use lethal force in a threatening situation is the most difficult decision an officer ever has to make; often made in a split-second.

 All of us at the Mesa Police Department value our community and the lives of each and every member. It is our mission to serve and protect, to provide professional policing, and to always earn the trust and support of our community.

Chief Ken Cost

 

Conspiracy to Commit Murder - Arrest

On July 27th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives were informed that a defendant, later identified as 59-yr old Lance Rohrer, was planning to abduct a 12-year old and hold the child for ransom.

Investigators obtained numerous audio recordings of Rohrer speaking to another person actively planning the abduction of the 12 year old. The 12-year old is the son of the car dealership owner where Rohrer works. Rohrer then met with an undercover detective and began making plans regarding the abduction to include a ransom of 2 million dollars and the use of a cheap motel. Rohrer purchased three burner phones to be used during the planning and commission of the crime and provided the undercover detective with the victim name and a possible address.

Rohrer was heard multiple times talking about killing the kid and being okay with it if the abduction plans did not work. On August 26, 2020 Mesa Police Officers placed Rohrer into custody and charged him with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit theft by extortion.

We are proud of the thorough investigation conducted by our detectives and grateful for the good working relationship we have with our federal law enforcement partners. At the request of the Mesa Police Department, the FBI Phoenix Field Office assisted with investigative and technical resources.

Officer Involved Accident - Update

The Officer involved in yesterday’s accident on US60 is Officer Sean Stoddard. Sean has been with our Department for over 13 years and has been known for his excellent work helping veterans through his nonprofit group “Archangels”. Sean is a military veteran himself and is currently still serving in the Armed Forces.

Sean is currently in critical condition at the hospital, and we are hopeful he will continue to make positive strides toward recovery as he is attended to by family, friends and the best medical professionals. We are grateful for our community’s support at this time and we wish Sean a speedy recovery.

Last year we posted a video about Sean and his decision to become an officer. You can see that video here: https://www.facebook.com/MesaAzPD/videos/517386742431050/

Here is a blog post we shared a few months ago regarding his work with veterans and the Archangels. 

https://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5669/16?fbclid=IwAR1lJqTDgze6rhFRuPiZJGsk6AP9Q9xYiDMeo_7TP9r04KFJRweTPqEWTGw

Two Brothers Arrested; One Woman Shot in Road Rage Incident

Two women were driving in the area of Rio Salado Pkwy and Country Club in Mesa when the occupants inside a sedan became enraged and began yelling at them. The driver of the sedan, 27-year-old Andres Nunez, began swerving into the victims’ car, nearly striking it. His 29-year-old brother Arturo Nunez was also in the car along with a girlfriend.

When both cars reached the intersection at Rio Salado and Country Club, a verbal fight broke out and continued when Arturo and the women got out of their cars. The women heard Arturo yell “west side” while showing the victims his hand in a shape of a “W”. Arturo began hitting the hood of the victims’ car while continuing to yell at them. One of the victims then hit Arturo’s car, prompting the girlfriend and brother to get out.

Realizing they were outnumbered, the woman driver yelled to her passenger to get back in the car just as the passenger was pushed to the ground by Arturo. The driver saw he was holding a gun so she jumps into the car and drives to a nearby parking lot, striking Arturo while attempting to flee. Andres then opens fire, hitting the driver three times – twice in the leg and once in the shoulder -- out of about 12 shots fired. She has non-life threatening injuries.

Mesa Police Officers arrived just as the shooting stopped. Arturo yelled “west side” and “Phoeniquera” at officers as they were giving commands. Arturo did not obey officers’ commands so several bean bag rounds were deployed. He eventually was arrested along with Andres.

Mesa PD’s K9 Rico Instrumental in Catching Burglary Suspect

Mesa Police officers respond to a burglary call at the Goodwill Store near Power and McDowell on January 12, 2020. The reporting party was monitoring the suspect inside the business via a live camera. When the suspect realizes officers are surrounding the building, he runs out and hides in an enclosed area outside the main building.

After the suspect refuses to surrender, K9 Officer Ron Swart sends his dog, Rico, to search the enclosed area. Rico bites the suspect after finding him hiding above the axle of a semi-trailer. The suspect verbally surrenders and no further use of force was required. 

The suspect, 44-year-old Russell Smith, was transported to the hospital for his bite injuries.

A backpack was recovered where Russell was hiding with cash in it. A known amount of money was taken from Goodwill, almost the same amount found in Russell’s backpack.  

Russell admits to prying open the back door and using a grinder to cut into the safe.

Russell is being charged with two felonies – 3^rd degree burglary and criminal damage.