Man Fires Handgun at Mesa Police Officer

On November 8, 2021, just after 2:00 a.m., a Mesa Police Officer noticed a vehicle with a broken taillight and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled into the apartment complex of 1903 N. Country Club Mesa, AZ and the officer followed with his overhead red and blue lights flashing. Suddenly, an occupant leaned out of the passenger side window pointing a handgun and shot several rounds at the officer. The driver then sped out of the complex.

The officer pursued the vehicle, driving northbound onto the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and coming to a stop on a dirt road that dead ended at the Verde River. At this time, 34-year-old Chanceler Sandoval, ran from the vehicle, leaving the driver, 33-year-old Tobias Thomas, and a female passenger behind.

Officers from DPS, MCSO, and Fort McDowell all responded to assist and helped take Thomas and the female into custody.

Around 3:19 a.m., a deputy with MCSO heard a noise by the river and yelled out to challenge the disturbance. Sandoval emerged soaking wet and cold; he surrendered to police officers without further incident.

Officers saw a handgun inside the vehicle and seized the vehicle as evidence, pending a search warrant to recover the weapon.

Sandoval told officers that he was recently released from prison and did not want to go back. He knew the officer was trying to pull the vehicle over and admitted to shooting the handgun toward the officer. Sandoval also stated that while the vehicle fled, he reloaded the handgun in preparation for another shoot-out with police.

Officers located six shell casings at 1903 N. Country Club along with video surveillance of the incident.

The officer who initiated the traffic stop was not injured. Upon inspection of his patrol vehicle, the officer located what appeared to be a bullet strike to the hood of his car.

The female passenger was interviewed and released without charges.

Chanceler Sandoval was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $100,000 bond:

6 counts ARS 13-1204A8A- Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement, a class 2 felony

1 count ARS 13-1209A- Drive by Shooting, a class 2 felony

1 count ARS 13-1211B- Discharging a Firearm at a Structure, a class 3 felony

1 count ARS 13-3102A4- Misconduct Involving Weapons, a class 5 felony

1 count ARS 13-3107A- Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, a class 6 felony

Chanceler Sandoval Mug Shot

Tobias Thomas was booked into jail for the following charges:

1 count ARS 28-622.01- Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement, a class 5 felony

1 count ARS 28-1383A1- Aggravated DUI, a class 4 felony

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

Tobias Thomas Mug Shot