Operation Leather Mitt – Child Sex Crimes Arrests

The Mesa Police Department recently partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Attorney General’s Office for Operation Leather Mitt, an undercover operation targeting the demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking. Throughout the operational period, 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. 

The Mesa Police Department routinely 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 this operation ranged in age from 21 to 56 years old. 

 

 

The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims who have been 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. Their website is https://humantraffickinghotline.org/  

For more information about human exploitation and trafficking and how to help, please visit: https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/police/units-divisions/mesa-family-advocacy-center/sex-trafficking-heat

MESA PD MAKE AN ARREST AFTER AIRPOD ARGUMENT TURNS DEADLY

 

On March 19, 2021 around 9:00 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to 843 S. Longmore Mesa, AZ for reports of a shooting.  After they arrived, they located 19-year-old Garry Anau and 21-year-old Kenyada Bass, both with gunshot wounds.  Garry and Kenyada were transported to the hospital where Garry was pronounced deceased.  

Officers interviewed several witnesses and learned that Garry had purchased fake AirPods from Kenyada days prior. Garry and two other people arranged a second meeting with Kenyada.  During this meeting, Kenyada arrived with a handgun.  

An argument started about the validity of the AirPods and Kenyada produced a gun.  A physical confrontation ensued and that is when Kenyada fired his gun, striking himself in the foot and also striking Garry.  

Kenyada was booked into jail on March 23, 2021 after being released from the hospital.  He was booked for the following charges:

 

1ct Manslaughter- ARS 13-1103.A1, a class 2 felony

2cts Aggravated Assault- ARS 13-1204A2, a class 2 felony

Behavioral Health Technician Arrested for Abuse of 4-year-old

On February 17, 2021 Mesa Police Officers responded to S.E.E.K. Arizona East, located at 1830 S. Alma School Rd in response to a child abuse call.  S.E.E.K. (Specializing in the Education of Exceptional Kids) Arizona East is a developmental preschool that provides infant and toddler care.  

Officers learned that a Behavioral Health Technician, identified as 29-year-old Kyle McKee, was the sole care provider of a non-verbal 4-year-old boy with Autism.  S.E.E.K. Arizona East provided officers with five video recordings showing Kyle and the boy alone in a classroom on four different days between January 18, 2021- February 16, 2021.        

The videos showed Kyle physically abusing the 4-year-old by hitting, pushing, and kicking him.  

The 4-year-old boy suffered an injury to his face from one of the incidents but had no serious physical injuries from the other events.

Kyle McKee self-surrendered into custody on March 16, 2021 and was released from custody with an ankle monitor on March 17, 2021.  He was charged with the following: 

4cts Child Abuse- ARS 13-3623B1, a class 4 felony.

Homicide Suspect Arrested After Hospital Release

On March 5, 2021 around 10:00 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to 436 W. Rio Salado Parkway reference reports of shots fired inside an apartment.  This investigation was later determined to be a homicide. 

A 27-year-old man, identified as Deandre Brewer, was found dead inside the apartment.  Two additional people, 43-year-old Brandi Black and 40-year-old Aaron Wright, were also located in the apartment and had suffered gunshot wounds.  Brandi and Aaron were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

Several witnesses were interviewed and different details as to what occurred were provided to detectives. Two witnesses stated that Aaron showed a handgun to his 8-year-old daughter and therefore was asked to leave the apartment.  An argument ensued after this request was made and according to these two witnesses, Aaron shot Deandre and Brandi.  Deandre returned fire and they both collapsed inside the apartment.  

A total of 26 shell casings were found inside the apartment, along with two handguns.  

On March 15, 2021, Aaron was released from the hospital and booked into jail for the following charges: 

1ct Second Degree Murder- ARS 13-1104A1, a class 1 felony.

1ct Aggravated Assault- ARS 1204A2, a class 2 felony.

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

Man Steals Car... With 2-Year-Old Inside

On March 5, 2021 around 5:23 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to QuikTrip, located at 414 S. Stapley Dr. reference a stolen vehicle.  The vehicle, a dark blue BMW 328I, had been parked outside of the store and left running, with a 2-year-old boy in the back seat.  

Officers spoke to the boy’s mother, who told them that she left her son in the car because he was sleeping and did not want to wake him up.  She also left her cell phone inside which was able to be tracked. Approximately 30 officers, from several different areas of the department (patrol, detectives, undercover, and motorcycle officers) scoured the surrounding area looking for the car and the child.  

Officers at the QuikTrip quickly accessed the store surveillance video and were able to get a suspect description.

QuikTrip Video Surveillance

Officers were able to track the cell phone to the 99 Cents store, located at 1045 S. Gilbert Rd.  They found the phone in a backpack, along with other property of the mother’s, by the entrance of the building.  After viewing store surveillance video, officers saw that the man who left the backpack was also the same man from the QuikTrip surveillance video.  In addition, officers learned that the man changed clothing and was now wearing shorts and flip flops.  They found his original clothing in the bathroom and throughout the store.  

99 Cents Store Video Surveillance of suspect entering bathroom.

Around 6:24 p.m., one hour after receiving the call, officers located the vehicle abandoned in a neighborhood about 1.5 miles away from QuikTrip.  The child was located inside the vehicle and was unharmed.  He was reunited with his parents.  

Mesa Police Crime Scene Technicians were able to lift latent fingerprints from QuikTrip and Detectives used facial recognition software to identity the suspect as 24-year-old Rodrigo Garcia.  

Days were spent looking for Rodrigo with no luck until March 11, 2021.  

Around 6:47 p.m. an employee from the 99 Cents store called the Mesa Police Department and said that Rodrigo was in the store asking about his backpack.  Quickly, officers responded and took Rodrigo into custody.  

Rodrigo told officers that he did take the vehicle, but when he saw the 2-year-old child in the backseat, he abandoned it in a neighborhood.   

Rodrigo was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $15,000 bond. 

1ct ARS 13-1304A4- Kidnapping, a class 2 felony

1ct ARS 1814A1- Theft of Means of Transportation, a class 3 felony

1ct ARS 1506A2- Vehicle Burglary, a class 4 felony

14-Year-Old Shoots Roomates

On March 9, 2021 around 2:50 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to the area of 1100 E. 6th Pl for a shooting. A female, later identified as 23-year-old Monique Guzman, called 911 and told officers that she and her 23-year-old roommate, identified as Daniel Clark, had been shot. Monique said they were both shot by another member of the home, a 14-year-old boy, identified as Angel Alvarez. 

 After speaking to a witness, who also lives in the home, officers learned that Monique, Daniel, and Angel were arguing about rent as well as other issues. The witness told officers they heard a gun being racked and shots fired inside of the house. When the witness went to the hallway of the home, they found Monique and Daniel had been shot and Angel was gone. 

Monique and Daniel were transported to the hospital for further treatment. Monique sustained a gunshot wound to her left ankle and Daniel was shot in the back and in the right leg. 

About 2 hours later, Mesa Police Officers located Angel. Angel told officers that he heard Monique and Daniel arguing about rent and went to see what was going on. Angel had a gun in his waistband and told officers that Daniel was being aggressive toward him. He went on further to say he pulled out his gun, racked it, and shot Daniel two times out of anger. Angel did not know that he shot Monique in the process.

 

After the shooting, Angel ran from the scene and said he dumped the gun behind a liquor store. Officers tried to locate the firearm and accompanied Angel to the location where he said he put it but were not able to find it. 

A search warrant was executed at the house and officers found three spent shell casings as well as one live round of ammunition. 

Angel was booked into Durango Juvenile Center where he remains on a no bond status. He was booked for 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon- DV, ARS 13-1204A2, a class 3 felony. 

After a court hearing on March 10, 2021, this case has been remanded to adult court.

Chevron Clerk Threatened with Knife

On March 9, 2021 around 5:39 a.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to Chevron, located at 3565 E. Broadway Mesa, AZ in response to a male with a knife.  The store clerk told officers that a male came onto the property while he was changing the trash can liners outside.  The male, later identified as 38-year-old Eric Van Tine, had a large butcher knife in his hand and began running at the store clerk as if he were going to stab him. 

The store clerk feared for his life but was able to run away from Eric and put a vehicle between them.  The clerk told officers that Eric yelled, “I told you I would be back to kill you!” 

The clerk showed officers video surveillance of the incident.  The video shows Eric walking into the Chevron parking lot and staring at the clerk.  He then removes a large knife from his waistband and begins running toward the clerk.  When the clerk gets behind a vehicle, Eric turns around and flees the area.    

Officers began searching the area for Eric and located him at 34^th St/ Broadway. 

The store clerk was brought to Eric’s location and identified him as the man who threatened him. 

Eric told officers that he was angry with the store clerk because he had previously accused him of shoplifting.  Eric would not tell officers where he put the knife, but said he just wants to go back to prison and eat a bologna sandwich. 

Eric was booked into jail for one count Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, ARS 13-1204A2, a class 4 felony.  He is being held on $25,000 bond.

Remembering Mesa’s First Female Chief of Police

In honor of Women’s History month, we would like to highlight Mesa Police Department’s first female Chief of Police, Jan Strauss. Not only was Jan the first female Police Chief for Mesa, but she was also the first female Assistant Chief. That is two “firsts” for female achievement in the Mesa Police Department… by the same woman! 

Jan started her police career in April 1978 and spent 24 years and 8 months as a sworn officer. During her time as an officer, Jan spent years as a Police Detective before promoting to Master Police Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and then Captain. Her career was everchanging and her strive for success continued when in 1994, she became the police department’s first female Assistant Chief. Jan held this position for four years. 

In May 1998, Jan was offered the “Acting Chief” position. This position was made after the current Chief of Police retired. Jan held this position while a nationwide search for the next Police Chief commenced. 

In October 1998, Jan was chosen as the first female Chief of Police for the Mesa Police Department and served as such for four years until she retired in November 2002.