Within three
days five mailboxes were destroyed by an unknown explosive device. The
incidents occurred between March 12- March 15, 2021 with four of the incidents occurring
in Mesa and one taking place in Gilbert. Evidence collected from the last
incident left officers believing the explosive devices used were some sort of
consumer firework.
During the
investigations, officers discovered three of the Mesa cases had video footage
from surveillance cameras which captured the suspect vehicle. Officers utilized
police databases to search for a maroon Hyundai Sonata between the years of
2006-2010.
One such
vehicle was associated with forty-year-old John Janecek. In addition, John was
found in videos on social media making and setting off consumer fireworks.
After
obtaining a search warrant for John’s phone records, officers found that he had
been in the area of the first Mesa incident, followed by the Gilbert incident shortly
after.
On April 15,
2021, officers located and detained John pursuant to the search warrant. His
cellphone was seized, and John was questioned. John denied blowing up any
mailboxes but said he did have “materials” that he thought he should not have,
so he had them destroyed. John continued to talk to officers, making
incriminating statements about blowing up mailboxes, but would then stop and correct
himself.
Another
search warrant was obtained for John’s social media content. Officers found one message John sent to an
individual which said, “You sure have been a lot of mailboxes disappearing.”
May 28, 2021
John was arrested by Mesa Police Officers. In a spontaneous statement, John
told officers he apologized to the business owner from the first incident and
paid him $30 as restitution for destroying the mailbox.
John went on
further to confess to blowing up at least three mailboxes.
Any case
involving explosive devices is extremely concerning for the community and law
enforcement officers. Mesa Police Officers worked continuously to develop leads
and obtain undisputed evidence to locate John and arrest him. We are proud of
our officers and all their efforts to bring resolution to not only our community,
but the Gilbert community as well.
John was
booked into Maricopa County Jail for the following charges:
5 counts 1st
Degree Burglary, ARS 13-1508A, a class 3 felony (entering a nonresidential
structure while in possession of explosives)
5 counts Disorderly
Conduct, ARS 13-2904A6, a class 6 felony (recklessly handling a deadly
weapon or dangerous instrument with intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a
neighborhood, family, or person)
1 count Possession
of Dangerous Drugs, ARS 13-3407A1, a class 4 felony
