Suspect Arrested for Violating Shannon’s Law

 

On February 23, 2021 around 10:30 p.m. Mesa Police Officers responded to the Red Mountain Apartments, located at 2610 N. Recker Mesa, AZ for reports of a shooting.  

Two witnesses told officers that a man, later identified as 36yo Aaron Taylor, was in an argument with two other men in the complex. They watched Aaron walk away from the men, go into his apartment, and come out with a handgun. Aaron fired the handgun into the air and then went back into his apartment.  

Officers contacted Aaron at his apartment. Aaron told officers that he was in a physical fight with another man in the complex, resulting in him being punched and receiving a black eye. After the fight, Aaron said he got his handgun and used it to fire a single shot in hopes of scaring the men away.  

Aaron described the weapon he used as a .40 Smith & Wesson. He also informed officers that he is a prohibited possessor due to a prior felony conviction and is not allowed to possess a firearm. 

When asked why he did not call police to help resolve the situation, Aaron said, “Because I’m stupid.”  

Officers recovered Aaron’s handgun after the execution of a search warrant. 

In Arizona, discharging a firearm into or within city limits is a felony. This law is also known as “Shannon’s Law”, which was signed into law in July 2000. Shannon’s Law stems from the death of 14yo Shannon Smith, who was struck in the head by a stray bullet while in her backyard in Phoenix, AZ. Her killer still has not been identified.  

Aaron was booked into jail for the following charges and did not receive a bond.  

1ct Misconduct Involving Weapons/ Prohibited Possessor, ARS 13-3102A4, a class 4 felony.

1ct Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm (Shannon’s Law), ARS 13-3107A, a class 6 felony.

Mountain Rescue with Mesa Fire Department

On February 20, 2021 around 10:12 p.m. Mesa Police Officers responded to a small mountain located just north of 1645 N. Sterling Mesa, AZ (Falcon Hill School), reference an unconscious male.  With the help of Mesa PD Helicopter, Falcon 6, officers hiked the steep mountain and located the 22yo male near the top.  The male was found on an incline and was not on or near a path. 

Officers signaled responding Mesa Fire and medical personnel by utilizing their flashlights to show them where they were positioned on the mountain.  After firefighters assessed the situation, they found the man in a catatonic state and realized that he could not assist them in his own rescue.  Mesa Fire Department executed a plan to carry the man down the mountain in a stretcher like basket.  Officers assisted by securing ropes, carrying medical gear, and lighting the way for medics to succeed.  

Once off the mountain, the man was taken to the hospital where he received further treatment. 

Communication between both departments was not only exceptional, but a necessity for the safety of the man.  Officers do not receive specialized mountain training but were quick to assist firefighters needs.  This is another example of how teamwork resolves in a positive outcome for not only the patient, but everyone involved.

Suspect Identified by Ring Camera

 

On February 17, 2021 around 11:14 a.m. Mesa Police Officers responded to the area of 3300 E. Farmdale Mesa, AZ for reports of suspicious activity.  An observant witness called police after seeing two men park a vehicle on the street and begin wiping down the steering wheel and door handles before walking away.  The suspicious activity was caught on the witness’s Ring Camera affixed to the top of his house. 

Officers arrived on scene and discovered the vehicle in question was listed as stolen.  The vehicle was stolen on February 7, 2021 by an unknown person.

Immediately, officers began searching the area and detained two males a couple of blocks away from the stolen vehicle.  These males matched the description of the males captured by the Ring Camera.  The male that exited the driver’s seat was identified as 30yo Billy Patterson. 

Billy told police that he did not steal or possess the stolen vehicle, but the Ring Camera showed the opposite.  In fact, the Ring Camera showed Billy drove the vehicle and then began wiping it down. 

Billy was arrested and officers found the stolen vehicle keys in his pocket.  He also possessed narcotic drugs and drug paraphernalia, which he admitted were his.  

Billy was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $750 bond.   

1ct Theft of Means of Transportation, ARS 13-1814A1, a class 4 felony.

1ct Possession of a Narcotic Drug, ARS 13-3408A1, a class 6 felony.

1ct Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, ARS 13-3415A, a class 6 felony. 

“Just Because”

On February 15, 2021 at 6:36 p.m. Mesa Police Officers responded to The Olive Press, located at 720 S. Mesa Dr Mesa, AZ reference a resident assaulting another resident with a glass bottle.

When officers arrived, they located the victim lying on the ground outside of the facility.  The victim had blood all around his head and the ground beneath him.  Officers observed a laceration to the top of his head and provided medical attention immediately.  The victim was taken to the hospital where he received staples to close the wound. 

The victim identified the suspect as 22yo Sergio Gutierrez De Niz.  He said Sergio hit him with the glass bottle while he was seated and then proceeded to punch him. 

Several witnesses told officers they saw Sergio strike the victim with the bottle and identified him to officers. 

Sergio told officers that he did not know the victim and he had no reason to assault him, but he chose to do so “just because”. 

Sergio was arrested for one count of Aggravated Assault with a Dangerous Instrument, ARS 13-1204A2, a class 3 felony.  He is being held on a $20,000 bond. 

2 High Schools Put Into Lockdown/ Suspect Arrested

On February 9, 2021 around 2:53 p.m. nearly 20 officers from different units within the Mesa Police Department were dispatched to Skyline High School for reports of a subject with a gun on campus.  The suspect, later identified as eighteen-year-old Elijah Platt, was said to be on the north side of the school.   

Skyline and Superstition High Schools were put into immediate lockdown for approximately 20 minutes while officers saturated the area to find Elijah.  With no luck, the lock downs were lifted, but officers continued to investigate.  

Two student witnesses were interviewed and stated they saw Elijah by the softball fields with a handgun in his waistband.  When Elijah saw them, he moved the gun to the interior pocket of his jacket.  

Skyline High School’s School Resource Officer (SRO) began reviewing campus security footage and verified the witness’s stories.  This SRO recognized Elijah from prior contacts and knows that he is not a student at Skyline High School.    

Around 4:36 p.m. officers were dispatched to the Coyote Landing Condominiums, located at 10136 E. Southern Mesa, AZ, for a subject threatening with a gun.  At 4:41 p.m. officers detained the subject and identified him as Elijah.  

One witness told officers that he observed smoke coming from where Elijah and a juvenile female were located on the property.  He went to see what was going on, suspecting illegal activity.  The witness held on to Elijah while police were called. 

While holding Elijah, the victim felt a gun in his waistband.  Another witness helped by removing the gun from Elijah’s possession.  

After officers arrested Elijah, they found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia on his person, as well as a loaded handgun magazine.  

Elijah was interviewed and told officers the drugs were his.  He also admitted to possessing the handgun, saying that he found it in a bush.  In addition, Elijah gave illegal drugs to the juvenile female he was with, who had to be transported to the Hospital.  

Elijah was booked into jail for 12 charges and held on no bond status.  The charges are as follows: 

1ct Possession of Firearm During Drug Offense, ARS 13-3102A8, a class 4 felony.

1ct Narcotic Drug Possession, ARS 13-3408A1, a class 4 felony.

2ct Minor Carrying a Firearm, ARS 13-3111A, a class 6 felony.

1ct Carry Firearm on School Campus, ARS 13-3102A12, a class 6 felony.

1ct Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, ARS 13-3415A, a class 6 felony. 

1ct Interfering with School Session, ARS 13-2911A2, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Assault, ARS 13-1203A3, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Disorderly Conduct, ARS 13-2904A1, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, ARS 13-3613A, a class 1 misdemeanor.

2ct Trespassing, ARS 13-1503A, a class 2 misdemeanor.

Road Rage Arrest

 

On February 9, 2021 at approximately 3:50pm, officers responded at the area of 1800 E. Covina for a report of a shots fired.  As the officers were responding, the suspect was described as an adult male wearing a red flowered shirt and jeans.  The first officers on scene found a subject, Timor Shah Gardezy, matching that description walking in the complex.  Gardezy was detained and a handgun was found in his possession.  Additional officers arrived and found the victim in a nearby complex with a gunshot wound to his leg. 

When officers found the victim, he was in his vehicle along with his 6- and 7-year-old children.  He told officers that he was following the suspect in the adjacent complex when they both stopped in the parking lot.  Both drivers got out of their vehicles and began arguing and fighting.  After the fight, the victim said he went back to his car and had the door closed and the windows up as the suspect approached.  The suspect produced a handgun and began firing through the window and door striking the victim.  Fearing for his safety and his children, he drove around the suspect before stopping nearby to get help for his injury.  The children in the backseat were not injured in the shooting. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Gardezy was transported to the police station where he was interviewed about the incident.  He admitted that he and the suspect were involved in a fight in the parking lot.  He said it started because the victim thought he was driving too slow in the parking lot.  Gardezy said that after the two had separated, the victim came back at him again, so he shot him.  Witnesses on scene described the fight and the suspect approaching the victim’s car before shooting into the car. 

Based on the evidence at the scene and statements from the victim and witnesses, Gardezy was arrested for the following charges and held on a $150,000 bond:

 1 count of Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, a class 3 felony

2 counts Endangerment, a class 6 felony

Slashing Suspect Apprehended by K9

On February 9, 2021 at 6:05 p.m. Mesa Police Officers responded to The Olive Press, located at 720 S.  Mesa Dr Mesa, AZ reference reports of a resident stabbing people inside.  The Olive Press is “A safe housing program to individuals who may be experiencing abuse through sexual and domestic violence, homelessness, and/ or but not limited to Self-Abuse” according to their website, theolivepress.org.  This facility houses twenty people at any given time.

When police arrived, they encountered a chaotic scene with people running everywhere.  They located two male victims in front of the facility with slash marks to their face and were able to get a third male victim to come outside with a laceration to the nose.  All three victims were relocated to a triage location set up by Mesa Fire Department for treatment and subsequently transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The witness who initially called police remained on scene and described the suspect to the house manager, who identified the man as 56-year-old Theodor (Ted) Bush.  This witness told officers she last saw Theodor moving toward the back of the facility swinging the knife. 

Mesa Police Department’s Street Crimes Units from Fiesta and Red Mountain District responded to the scene and set a perimeter around The Olive Press in conjunction with Mesa Police Department’s SWAT Unit.  The Olive Press consists of three separate residential structures, all of which had to be evacuated by our officers in an intensive manpower task due to the number of residents who remained.  

While MPD SWAT began making announcements at the facility, Mesa Police Department Detectives began putting together photo line ups to show the victims at the hospital.  All three victims selected Ted as the person who cut them. 

Interviews with the victims painted a gruesome picture of what occurred.  They told Detectives that Ted was angry and throwing items around the kitchen.  He then grabbed a butcher style knife and cut the first two victims in the face.  Both victims had no relationship with Ted and did not know why he would do this.  Ted encountered the third victim out front.  He pushed him down, punched him, and then stabbed his face. 

A fourth victim was found at the scene with a cut in their jacket.  This victim told officers that Ted stabbed the knife toward her and demanded her property.  She had no physical injuries from the encounter. 

Mesa Police Detectives wrote a search warrant for the apprehension of Ted, which allowed entry into the facility.  Ted was seen walking in and out of a room but would not comply with officer’s request to surrender.  During this activity, Ted was shot with a less lethal bean bag shotgun, but still did not give in.  Mesa Police Officer McClure and K9 Officer, Rico II, were deployed and succeeded in apprehending Ted.  

Ted suffered injuries from the dog bite as well as the less lethal beanbag round.  He was transported to the hospital, where he remains as of this release.  

During the execution of the search warrant, the fourth victim’s property was found in Ted’s room.  

When Ted is released from the hospital, he will be booked into jail for 4 counts Aggravated Assault and 1 count Armed Robbery.  

Sara Gomez, the Executive Director of The Olive Press, said Ted has been a resident of the program for two years.  “The Olive Press houses people with special needs who might have nowhere else to go,” Sara added, “We love our community and the people, which includes the homeless and forgotten.”

Aggravated DUI Arrest

On February 7th just after 3 pm Mesa Police Officers saw a car stopped in the roadway at Country Club and 1st Ave in Mesa. Officers walked up to the car and saw an adult female later identified as Alvina Johnson sleeping at the wheel with her foot on the break. Officers also observed a 6 year old child in the back seat of the vehicle. Officers woke Johnson up and saw indications this could be a Driving Under the Influence situation. Johnson showed multiple signs of impairment  and admitted to drinking Vodka before driving. A preliminary breathalyzer test indicated a .211 blood alcohol content. 

Johnson was ultimately arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated DUI a Felony. We are grateful this situation ended before tragedy struck. If you or someone you know struggles with Alcohol or Substance Abuse please know there are resources to help. The Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety has a page with some helpful links:

https://gohs.az.gov/about-gohs/helpful-links

Alvina Johnson

Officers Identify Armed Robber After Traffic Stop

On January 19, 2021 just before 9:00 p.m., a suspect entered the Subway, located at 1840 W. Southern Mesa, AZ.  The suspect pointed a black handgun at the cashier and said, “Gimmie all the money in the register.”  The cashier complied and the suspect left in a dark colored Chrysler 300. 

On February 3, 2021, Mesa Police Detectives used video and photographs obtained from Subway store surveillance to disseminate amongst officers in an attempt to identify the robber.  

Subway Video Surveillance photo shown to Officers

Almost immediately, officers responded to the bulletin and Detectives found a lead, 22yo Devyn Mickens. 

When Detectives looked at Devyn’s recent law enforcement contacts, they found he was involved in a traffic stop on January 22, 2021, a few days after the armed robbery.  Detectives reviewed the body worn camera and saw that Devyn was wearing the same clothing as he wore in the Subway robbery.  In addition, the traffic stop was conducted on a black Chrysler 300.

Officer Body Worn Camera from Traffic Stop

During the traffic stop, Devyn initially lied to officers about a weapon being in the vehicle, but later admitted there was a handgun in a purse by his feet.  Officers collected the gun as evidence, which turned out to be an exact match to the handgun used at the Subway. 

In Arizona, a subsection of Misconduct Involving Weapons is defined as knowingly carrying a deadly weapon, except a pocket knife, concealed on your person or within your immediate control, in or on a means of transportation. When contacted by a law enforcement officer and failing to accurately answer the officer if the officer asks whether the person is carrying a concealed deadly weapon you may be charged.  

Devyn was not booked into jail during the traffic stop and was released from the scene with the misdemeanor charge to follow.  Knowledge of the Subway robbery was not know at the time of the traffic stop.

Detectives contacted the officer who initiated the traffic stop and learned that he had not seen the armed robbery bulletin yet as he was on his days off.  The officer viewed the bulletin while on the phone with Detectives and said the suspect was Devyn Mickens. 

On February 4, 2021 at 3:15 p.m., Devyn was arrested at his home.  Devyn told Detectives that he was sorry for the armed robbery at Subway and that he used the stolen money to buy drugs.

Devyn was arrested for the following charges and held on a $25,000 bond:

1ct Armed Robbery, ARS 13-1904A1, a class 2 felony

1ct Aggravated Assault (pointing a handgun at the Subway cashier), ARS 13-1204A2, a class 3 felony

1ct Misconduct Involving Weapons (carrying a weapon in furtherance of a felony offense), ARS 13-3102A1A, a class 6 felony

1ct Misconduct Involving Weapons (defined in context above), ARS 13-3102A1B, a class 1 misdemeanor

Devyn Mickens Mugshot

 

 

Arson Arrest - Damage estimated to be in the Millions

On January 28, 2021 Mesa Police Officers arrested a transient male who started a fire in the Garden Center of a Mesa Walmart, causing more than $6,000,000 in damage. 

Around 12:40 p.m., Mesa Police Officers and Mesa Firefighters responded to Walmart, located at 857 N. Dobson in response to a fire. Mesa Firefighters saw the smoke as they arrived and upgraded the fire to a 1st Alarm, which meant that at least 40 firefighters from Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix Fire Departments would be responding to help fight the fire. 

Upon entry, Mesa Fire Department described the smoke as being so heavy that it encompassed their feet and so thick that the firefighters had little to no visibility as they walked inside. The smoke also activated the sprinkler system, which helped contain the fire that had now ignited several pallets of merchandise.

After the fire was extinguished, Mesa Firefighters utilized Phoenix Fire Department’s positive pressure fan to clear smoke from inside the store. As this was taking place, Mesa Police Officers began their investigation into the fire, discovering that the incident had been caught on Walmart video surveillance.

Officers reviewed the video and watched the suspect as he selected items throughout the store. He then went to the Garden Center, where he gathered cushions and padding in a pile on the floor. The suspect sprayed lighter fluid on the items and surrounding merchandise before setting it on fire and running away with a Walmart blanket and jacket; amongst other items. 

The suspect appeared to be a Native American male wearing a long-sleeved cream-colored shirt and dark pants that were both very dirty. Based on the suspect’s appearance, Officers thought he might be transient and began searching the surrounding area. 

The Mesa Police Department’s Central Bike Unit began canvassing the canals close to Walmart. About 1000 yards from the Walmart, they found the suspect and identified him as Marcus Manygoats. Marcus was wearing the same clothing he had on while at Walmart and was in possession of the stolen blanket and jacket. 

Walmart managers told Officers that the amount of smoke and water that went through the store caused damage to their products, structure, and electrical systems. This type of damage forced Walmart to close and will add to the total loss accrued from the criminal actions of Marcus Manygoats. Walmart estimates the total damage between $6,000,000- $10,000,000. 

Marcus was arrested for the following charges and held on a $200,000 bond. 

1ct Arson of an Occupied Structure- ARS 13-1704A, a class 2 felony 

1ct Criminal Damage, ARS 13-1602A1 (over $10,000) a class 4 felony 

1ct Endangerment, ARS 13-1201A, a class 6 felony.

Marcus Manygoats

"Because I felt like it..."

On February 1, 2021 around 2:00 p.m., a Mesa Police officer observed a silver Hyundai Elantra driving erratically around Alma School/ University Mesa, AZ.  The driver, later identified as Hannah Clevenger, was traveling upwards of 70mph, weaving in and out of her lane, and splitting the lane line of two lanes with her vehicle.    

The officer got behind Hannah’s vehicle and activated his red and blue lights.  He watched as Hannah looked at him through her driver’s side mirror.  He then added all four of the audible tones preset in his vehicle to further grab Hannah’s attention, but Hannah did not pull over.

Finally, the vehicles approached a red light and Hannah stopped her car.  The officer got out of his vehicle and tried to engage Hannah, who stared at him without saying a word.  When the light turned green, Hannah continued to drive away from the officer. 

On February 2, 2021, the officer located Hannah at her home and arrested her for 1ct Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement, ARS 28-622.01, a class 5 Felony.

Hannah told the officer that she remembered who he was and that she did not stop for him “because I felt like it was the right thing to do.”

What to do if you do get pulled over... 

https://www.facebook.com/146003455413280/videos/480057866344493

"99 Bananas"

On February 1, 2021 around 11:15 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to a collision involving a vehicle vs. pedestrian at Gilbert/ Southern Mesa, AZ. 

Witnesses told officers that they watched a white suburban traveling northbound on Gilbert Rd strike a pedestrian in the crosswalk at Southern Ave. After the driver saw the witness he turned around.  The driver, later identified as 40yo Jimmy Maxwell Jr, went over to the pedestrian and told him that police were not needed and that he was okay. 

A DUI investigation was started after officers noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Jimmy.  Jimmy admitted to taking 3 shots of “99 Bananas” prior to police contact, but stated he was not driving the vehicle.

Jimmy told officers that an unknown subject was driving the vehicle and that he was asleep in the passenger side. After the collision occurred and Jimmy was awoken, he said he switched seats with the driver and stopped the vehicle. 

Officers put Jimmy through a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, to which they noted several validated clues.  They also found that Jimmy had a revoked driver’s license out of Tennessee.

In Arizona, if any person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated and their driver license or privilege to drive is suspended, canceled, revoked, or refused they may be charged with Aggravated DUI.

Jimmy was booked into jail for 1ct Aggravated DUI- ARS 13-1383A1, a class 4 Felony.

Storage Unit Lock Picker Arrested

On February 1, 2021 Mesa Police Detectives arrested 33yo Cyndal Despain after linking her to a series of storage unit burglaries at Dollar Self Storage, located at 2732 E. McKellips Rd Mesa, AZ.  

Cyndal and her husband rented a unit at this facility, which gave her public access to the locks of several more units.  Video surveillance showed her picking the lock on several units at the business.  One unit was accessed two times on two different occasions.  Cyndal is seen loading more than $20,000 in guitars, music equipment, and other stolen items into her vehicle.  

A search warrant was served on Cyndal’s storage unit, which allowed Detectives to recover many stolen items from reported and unreported unit burglaries.

Cyndal told Detectives that she has an ability to pick locks and that she chose to burglarize storage units to support her drug habit.  

Cyndal was booked into jail for the following charges:

3 counts Burglary- ARS 13-1506A1, a class 4 Felony.