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.