Home Invasion Suspect - Identified and Arrested

Detectives and Officers have been working around the clock and thanks to assistance from the public and good investigative work a suspect in recent home invasions and attempted sex assault has been arrested. 

The suspect has been identified as 18 year old Darrus Love Bracewell. The following is a brief synopsis of the investigation and subsequent arrest. 

 The series of Home Invasions began on 12-10-20 when the suspect followed a female victim and her juvenile daughter to her apartment door and placed a screwdriver against her side. He pushed the victim inside and immediately demanded cash from the victim. When the victim stated she did not have any cash, he told her he was going to injure her daughter. The suspect punched the victim several times in her face during this incident. The screwdriver was found in the apartment and collected. At that time, all evidence was collected and analyzed however nothing returned as a match to known files. A crime bulletin was sent out with a composite sketch and no leads or witnesses were located. 

 On 01-20-21 through 1-22-21, three more reports were made by victims stating they were approached at their doors and forced into their apartments by a male suspect matching the description of the male described in the 12-10-20 case. During these investigations, a video from a Ring security camera recorded the suspect outside of one of the victim’s doors. That video was used to create a bulletin which was shared with media and on MPD social media pages. Leads were followed up by several units and investigators were able to identify the suspect as Bracewell by showing the video to family and close contacts of his. 

As detectives searched for Bracewell they identified him as a suspect related to two previously unsolved shoplifting cases at the Circle K at Power and McKellips earlier this month. 

 On 01-24-21 at approximately 1:30 pm Bracewell was located and detained. Bracewell was interviewed and confessed to all the incidents in question however he denied any sexual motivation during any of the incidents. Based on the statements of all victims, evidence collected, and Bracewell’s confession, Attempted Sexual Assault was not chargeable. 

 Bracewell was charged with one count of Armed Robbery, one count of Burglary in the 1st degree, two counts of 2nd degree burglary, one count of Attempted Burglary, one count of Robbery, and one count of Shoplifting. Bracewell was booked into the Mesa Jail for numerous felony charges stemming from this investigation. 

Once he was booked, Bracewell attempt to hang himself with his shirt and Detention Officers intervened. During that incident two Officers were assaulted causing two additional counts of Aggravated Assault. 

 We are grateful to all the citizens who reached out and provided information to help us identify Bracewell. We are proud of the many Officers and Detectives who spent countless hours working to identify and search for the suspect before he could victimize any further citizens.

Darrus Love Bracewell DOB:6/4/2002

Public Safety Announcement – Help us identify Attempted Sex Assault Suspect

The Mesa Police Department is seeking your help identifying a suspect believed to be involved in four incidents of home invasion and attempted sexual assault. The four incidents involve female victims in apartment complexes between Dobson and Alma School north of Southern in Mesa. The suspect has either pushed his way into the victim’s apartment or has entered through unsecured doors and has become violent in his attempt to commit sexual assault.

Pictures have been obtained from one of the incidents and we are asking the public to be aware and to help us identify this man.

The suspect is described as a Black Male in his 20s between 5”10 - 6’, athletic build, short black hair in approximately 1-2 inch twists. In two of the incidents the suspect was seen wearing a black hoodie with “Premiere Soccer” in green lettering.

 

The four related incidents are as follows:

1- 1030 S STEWART - 12/10/20

2- 1030 S STEWART - 1/20/21

3- 1840 W EMELITA - 1/21/21

4- 1620 W SOUTHERN AVE - 1/21/21

(Times have varied between 9:30 pm and 7 am)

Please call 480-644-2211 if you have any information or call 911 in an emergency. 

Mesa Police Department Awarded 5 GOHS Grants for FY2021

 

Mesa Police Department Awarded 5 GOHS Grants for FY2021

The Mesa Police Department (MPD) Traffic Section was formally awarded six Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) grants for FY2021. The following grants will support MPD’s commitment to DUI enforcement and promoting safe roadways. The MPD received the following grant awards for FY2021:

 

·         DUI Abatement Grant Program: $50,000  (August 2020 – June 2021)

o   Support police personnel services overtime

o   DUI task force events

o   Support training and education to combat impaired driving (HGN, ARIDE, DRE Schools)

 

·         DUI Enforcement Overtime, Materials and Supplies: $123,569.00

o   Major holiday task force

o   DUI enforcement related to patrol district projects

o   Support training and education to combat impaired driving (HGN, ARIDE, DRE Schools)

o   Drug testing kits and portable breath test machines and

 

·         Selective Traffic Enforcement Overtime, Materials and Supplies: $86,218

o   Back to School enforcement

o   Speed enforcement

o   Speed detection devices

 

·         Occupant Protection Overtime, Materials & Supplies: $20,660

o   Child Safety Seat Education and Enforcement

o   Child Safety Seats/boosters

 

·         Pedestrian & Bicyclist Focus Education & Enforcement Efforts - $33,262

o   Education and enforcement of pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver violations affecting the safety of pedestrians/bicyclists

 

·         Accident Investigation Training: $9,030

o   Collision reconstruction training courses

 

 

GOHS is fundamental in the progress, direction and advancement in public safety programs throughout the state of Arizona. To accomplish set goals, GOHS awards grant funding to various law enforcement agencies, including fire departments and non-profit organizations. GOHS plays a critical role in maintaining safe roadways for its citizens.    

Mesa PD would like to extend its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for their continual support. GOHS allows for the success of City of Mesa safe streets and its citizens.

For more information about GOHS: https://www.azgohs.gov/

Murder Suspect Arrested

On December 16, 2020 just after 01:21am, an off-duty officer was told by two witnesses that a man had just been stabbed in the roadway near 200 S. Mesa Dr.  The witnesses described the suspect and said that he left the area going eastbound. 

Patrol officers responded and found the victim lying on the sidewalk, heavily bleeding.  They discovered the male had been stabbed multiple times throughout his body.  He was immediately transported to the hospital, where he later died just hours after the attack. 

During the investigation, officers spoke to Ramon Polk, who was waiting with the victim when officers arrived.  Ramon told officers that he knew the victim but was not with him when he was stabbed.  He was released from the scene without further information.

Well, additional information came in the from of video surveillance.  After canvassing the area for evidence, detectives located video surveillance from a local business that put the suspect and victim together prior to the stabbing. 

The suspect in the video was wearing an identifiable jacket; one that had lighter colored sleeves.  The same jacket that Ramon had been wearing when he was contacted earlier by officers. 

After realizing the murder suspect was Ramon, Detectives located him in an alleyway close to the crime scene. 

Ramon was arrested and confessed to Detectives that he did stab the victim.  He said that the victim threw a can of beer at his wife, so he followed him to scare him off.

Ramon was booked into jail for one count of 2^nd Degree Murder (ARS 13-1104.A2).

Conspiracy to Commit Murder Multiple Arrests

On November 18^th 2020, Gustavo Trevino, Orlando Reyes, and Albert Carrillo were all arrested for multiple charges stemming from a several months long investigation.  

In August 2020, Mesa Detectives saw photographic evidence (open to the public) on Trevino’s Social Media pages indicating he may be in possession of firearms. Trevino is a prohibited possessor and this opened an investigation which led to a search warrant that provided detectives with thousands of pages of Trevino’s conversations. The conversations pointed to Trevino being a high-ranking gang member of the gang “Savage Murder Crime Family 451z”. The search warrant suggested evidence of weapon possession and a plot to commit armed robbery and murder.

Undercover detectives made contact with Trevino and initiated conversation that furthered this investigation. Trevino and Reyes made numerous statements to undercover detectives leading to the charges listed below. Trevino told undercover detectives his plan to murder two different individuals and his desire to commit armed robbery and murder for hire. A murder for hire plan was conceived that involved Trevino and Reyes committing an armed robbery in exchange for the murder of the two people Trevino wanted to kill.

After numerous exchanges with the undercover detectives Trevino and Reyes and a third suspect named Albert Carrillo were arrested and have been charged with multiple felonies.

 

Gustavo Trevino has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang, Assisting a Criminal Street Gang, Narcotics for Sale, Dangerous Drugs for Sale, and Misconduct involving Weapons.

Orlando Reyes has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang, Assisting a Criminal Street Gang, Narcotics for Sale, Dangerous Drugs for Sale, and Misconduct involving Weapons.

 Albert Carrillo has been charged with Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Participating in a Street Gang, and Assisting a Criminal Street Gang

 

We are proud of the hard work and dedication of all involved in this investigation. The suspects listed above have been charged and are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Albert Carrillo

Gustavo Trevino

Orlando Reyes

 

Attempt to Identify - Commercial Burglary Suspect

On September 28th at approximately 6:00 pm two suspects entered the Circle K at 330 E Broadway Rd and walked directly behind the counter where they removed a large quantity of cigarettes. They placed the cigarettes into a plastic bag they brought with them into the store. The suspects were seen on camera leaving eastbound through the Allied Surplus parking lot. We are asking the community to help us identify the suspects. 

Su1- White male, 18-25 years old, tattoo along upper and lower right forearm, tattoo along bottom left forearm, wearing “Black Lives Matter” tee shirt, black AZ Cardinals hat, carrying a yellow JanSport backpack.

Su2- Unknown race male, 18-25 years old, wearing a flannel shirt, dark shorts, carrying a multi-colored backpack.

Contact Info: Please contact Detective A. Elliff 18343 at 480-431-9354 with information.

Four Adults arrested after armed robbery spree and murder.

 (Mesa, AZ. October 28, 2020)

Mesa Police Detectives arrested four adults connected to a string of crimes including armed robbery and the murder of 38-year-old Brandon Van. The suspects were identified as:

Jaquan Jaheem Bailey (18-years-old),

Stephon Mitchell (18-years-old),

Vincent Culbreath (38-years-old) and

Ashley Herrell (37-years-old).

The first incident occurred at a convenience store called, “In the Zone”, 1163 W Broadway in Mesa. While the three men were inside the store, Culbreath stole two bottles of alcohol. When a clerk attempted to stop him, Culbreath displayed a handgun.

Soon after, around 12pm, Bailey, Mitchell, Culbreath, and Herrell were in the area of 1700 W. Bentley in Mesa when they stopped to talk to Brandon Van, appearing to ask him for directions. Van then walked away. Surveillance video shows Culbreath contact Van again and try to rob him. The three men chased Van while firing shots. Van tried to hide in the neighborhood behind a planter. Van eventually surrendered his backpack as the suspects shot at him. Van was then physically assaulted and shot multiple times at close range, killing him. The suspects ran back to the vehicle and fled the area.

The suspects then went to another area in east Mesa where they stole four tires from outside a home. The four suspects next went to the town of Guadalupe, where they attempted a third armed robbery. In Guadalupe, a woman intervened and was subsequently shot. She is in critical condition but expected to survive.

The group’s final stop was in Phoenix, where they had an argument over a gun. Shots were fired, police were called, and they were arrested. Additional charges are pending regarding the series of crimes that occurred before and after the murder. All four were booked into jail on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges.

Vincent Culbreath

Stephon Mitchell

Jaquan Jaheem Bailey

Ashley Herrell

4 DAY CRIME SPREE ENDS WITH 19 FELONY CHARGES/ 6 CASES CLOSED

 

The Mesa Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and East Valley Wanted Offender Task Force located violent offender, 34yo Guillermo Reyes, at a hotel in Chandler.  With the assistance of Chandler Police Department’s Robbery/ Homicide Unit and SWAT team, Guillermo was taken into custody and booked for 19 felony charges.  Guillermo went on a four-day crime spree that affected the City of Mesa and Chandler to include multiple Armed Robberies, Stolen Vehicles, and Aggravated Assaults.  The crimes occurred between September 29- October 2, finally ending with Guillermo being arrested in Chandler on October 9, 2020.  The arrest of Guillermo Reyes brought a close to 6 open cases.   

It all started on September 29, 2020 around 6:46pm when Guillermo opened fire on two victims outside Diamond Sport’s Grill located at 161 N. Centennial Way in Mesa.  At least 12 rounds were fired at the victims, who were seated in their vehicle.  Both victims suffered minor grazing wounds.  Neither victim knew why they were fired upon or what might have precipitated the suspect’s actions.                                                                                                                                    

Witnesses described the shooter as a short, stocky Hispanic male wearing a blue LA Dodgers baseball cap and fleeing in a black Cadillac Escalade. 

Around 7:13pm, Guillermo robbed a third victim at gunpoint and took their purple Mercedes C320.  The robbery occurred at 1233 N. Mesa Dr in Mesa.  It was at this location that police found the black Cadillac Escalade abandoned.

While taking the stolen vehicle report, police were approached by three more victims.  They were working on a Ford Escape in the parking lot that would not start. Guillermo initially approached them and tried to rob them at gunpoint, but when told the vehicle would not start, he walked away. He took the Mercedes shortly after this event.

At 8:11pm.  Guillermo robbed Tom’s BBQ located at 5005 E. McKellips Rd in Mesa at knife point, making this business and employee his seventh and eighth victims. 

The night ended at 11:57pm when officers were dispatched to an abandoned vehicle in the intersection of Guadalupe/ Springwood in Mesa.  The vehicle was found to be the stolen Mercedes C320.  It was unoccupied and out of fuel.  Inside the vehicle were discarded food containers from Tom’s BBQ as well as Guillermo’s fingerprints.

On October 1, 2020 around 6:34pm, Guillermo robbed a ninth victim at gunpoint and took their GMC Sierra pickup truck.  The robbery occurred in the 200 block of E. Grandview in Mesa.  At the time of the robbery, Guillermo placed a backpack in the bed of the truck.  Unbeknownst to him, there was a hole in the bed and the backpack fell to the ground.  Inside the backpack was a blue LA Dodgers baseball cap.

On October 2, 2020 around 4:19pm, the stolen GMC Sierra was recovered in the 500 block of W. Erie in Chandler after being abandoned.  Fingerprints belonging to Guillermo were found inside. 

A short time later, Guillermo robbed a tenth victim on the same street at gunpoint.  He forced the victim inside his home and made him take off his clothes.  Guillermo took off his own clothes and put on the victim’s clothing, which included a camouflage shirt.  He left his clothes behind and fled in the victim’s blue Ford Mustang.

Next, Guillermo went to a Fry’s Grocery Store located at 1950 W. Ray Rd in Chandler.  Here, he robbed an eleventh victim at gunpoint.  He stole their silver Jeep Grand Cherokee and then fled into Mesa.

As the day continued, around 4:53pm, Guillermo ran into a twelfth victim’s garage in the 2100 block of S. Catarina in Mesa.  He stole their Infiniti Q40 at gunpoint.  The victim stated the suspect was wearing a camouflage shirt.  The Jeep Grand Cherokee was left at the scene as Guillermo fled in a new stolen vehicle.

On October 4, 2020, the Infiniti Q40 was recovered at the Tempe Marketplace.  Guillermo’s fingerprints were found in the vehicle along with the camouflage shirt belonging to the victim of the blue Ford Mustang and a receipt for Walgreens.  Video surveillance from the Walgreens showed a male subject wearing the camouflage shirt entering the store after the robbery.

This victim reported numerous credit cards stolen at the time Guillermo took the Infiniti Q40, two of which were used on at least three occasions after the robbery. 

On October 6, 2020, one of the card’s was used at a Fry’s Grocery Store in Scottsdale.  Video from that Fry’s shows Guillermo making a purchase. 

Guillermo was located by the Major Crimes Unit and East Valley Wanted Offender Task Force around 11:00pm on October 8, 2020.  He barricaded in a hotel room in Chandler. Chandler Police’s SWAT team responded, and Guillermo surrendered to them around 1:30am on October 9, 2020.  A search warrant was executed on Guillermo’s hotel room and police recovered a handgun loaded with red tipped ammunition.  This ammunition matched a live round found at the scene of the shooting at Diamond Sport’s Grill.

Guillermo was booked into Mesa City Jail for 19 felony charges.  The cases and charges are as follows:

DR 2020-28183

A.R.S. 13-1204A2 Aggravated Assault (x2), C3F

A.R.S. 13-3102A4 Misconduct w/ Weapons, C4F

DR 2020-28199

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

DR 2020-28229

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

DR 2020-29601

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

DR 2020-103590 (Chandler PD)

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery (x2), C2F

A.R.S. 13-1508A 1^st Degree Burglary, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1304A3 Kidnapping, C4F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means (x2), C3F

DR 2020-30210

A.R.S. 13-1904A1 Armed Robbery, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1508A 1^st Degree Burglary, C2F

A.R.S. 13-1814A5 Theft of a Means, C3F

A.R.S. 13-2102A1 Theft of a Credit Card, C5F

Maricopa County Warrant CR 2019-103257

 

Mesa Police want to thank all the extremely observant victims and witnesses, the meticulous Crime Scene Specialists, and especially the Chandler Police Department for helping us arrest a tremendously violent offender.  It is because of YOU that our agency was proudly able to make this announcement. 

 

Homicide (Road Rage) - Arrest

    On January 11^th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives responded to a hit and run incident at 825 S Alma School in Mesa. Victim 1 and Victim 2 were traveling together in their vehicle when a road rage incident occurred, and Victim 2 was purposely run over by the suspect.     

    The investigation revealed the defendant (later identified as Frank Lawrence) was driving a white Dodge Ram pickup truck northbound on Alma School from Southern when he drifted into the Victim’s lane causing Victim 1 to honk at the Lawrence. Lawrence began to drive erratically moving in and out of three lanes of traffic causing Victim 2 to use his cell phone to record the incident.

    Victim 1 drove her vehicle into the apartment complex driveway at 825 S Alma School where Lawrence followed and eventually confronted Victim 1 while she was sitting in her vehicle. Lawrence punched Victim 1 through the open car window causing Victim 2 to exit his vehicle and video record Lawrence and his vehicle for evidence. Lawrence then fled the scene as Victim 2 ran after to record the license plate of the vehicle. Victim 2 ran into the roadway on Alma School as Lawrence sped away and then abruptly did a u-turn and drove past Victim 2 and then turned again intentionally driving right at Victim 2 striking him with the vehicle.

    Lawrence made no attempt to stop and fled the scene. Victim 2 was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Victim 2 has been identified as 22 year old James Ackerman Jr.

    Investigators were able to use cell phone footage from Ackerman, Surveillance footage from the area, and multiple investigative tools to obtain search warrants and ultimately identify Lawrence as the driver that day. This investigation and subsequent arrest are the direct result of hours of committed investigation by multiple individuals and units within the Mesa Police Department.

    Frank Lawrence was booked and charged on 09/30/2020 with one count of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Leaving the scene of a fatal accident. 

Hit and Run - Arrest

On September 29^th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives responded to a hit and run incident at 1811 S Alma School in Mesa. An 81 year old male, later identified as Larry Lans, was struck and killed as he walked on the sidewalk.   

The investigation revealed the defendant (later identified as Joseph Eckert) was driving a silver Ford Ranger northbound on Alma School from Baseline when for unknown reasons he left the roadway and drove onto the sidewalk colliding with a water meter valve, Mr Lans, and an SRP electrical box. After the collision he immediately reversed into the roadway and fled southbound on Alma School in the northbound lanes.

Investigators were able to locate nearby surveillance footage that allowed them to positively identify the make and model of the vehicle along with a license plate that returned to a Ford Ranger. Through investigative efforts and with the assistance of undercover officers, the vehicle was located in Tempe and the owner was contacted. The vehicle owner was interviewed, and he identified Eckert (an acquaintance) as the driver on the day of the incident.

Eckert was contacted and interviewed and initially denied any involvement. He later confessed to driving the vehicle at the time of the incident and admitted to striking the power box but claimed he had no knowledge of striking a pedestrian.

We appreciate the sense of urgency and dedication by all the officers and detectives involved in this investigation and are grateful for their excellent teamwork to resolve this investigation so quickly.

Eckert has been booked and charged with one count of Failing to Stop for a Fatality Collision.