Silent Witness Tip Leads to Arrest

On August 1, 2022, the Mesa Police Department asked the public for help in identifying a man who pointed a gun at a woman’s face and then fired a handgun from his vehicle at another person on May 12, 2022. The crime occurred at a business in the area of Gilbert Rd/ U.S. 60 Mesa, AZ. Police identified the man as 33-year-old Greg Gomez through a Silent Witness tip and finally placed him under arrest yesterday, September 7, 2022.

On May 12, 2022, Mesa Police Officers responded to a shots fired call at 1559 S. Gilbert Rd (Native Grill & Wings). An employee told officers that while she was throwing the trash away in an outside dumpster, a man approached her and pointed a gun toward her face. He then ran away and got into a vehicle.

Officers spoke to a customer who said the man was inside the restaurant at the same time as him and when he walked outside to smoke a cigarette, the man started to drive his vehicle toward him, while firing several rounds from a gun in his direction.

About thirty people were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting and officers located bullet strikes in the building structure. Surveillance video was obtained and corroborated both victims accounts of what happened.

On August 1, 2022, the Mesa Police Department asked Silent Witness for help in disseminating information to the public and asking for any information on the man’s identity. These pictures were provided in the flyer.

Suspect

Suspect vehicle

After receiving a tip through Silent Witness, the officer put together a photo line up of the suspected person and succeeded in positively identifying the suspect as 33-year-old Greg Gomez.

On September 7, 2022, Gomez was taken into custody. He was charged with the following and held on a $25,000 bond.

2 counts ARS 13-1209A; Drive by Shooting, a class 2 felony

2 counts ARS 13-1204A2; Aggravated Assault, a class 3 felony

2 counts ARS 13-2904A6; Disorderly Conduct, a class 6 felony

2 counts ARS 13-3107A; Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, a class 6 felony

Greg Gomez Mug Shot

The Career That Comes With An Extended Family

Being part of a police department certainly comes with a myriad of challenges.  For some recruits, they’ve chosen to protect and serve the community they grew up in.  For many others, the adventure begins far from home.  If they are lucky enough to be hired at the Mesa Police Department, they not only benefit from an exhaustive training program, but they become part of something bigger and better. They don’t just have the support of a growing and proud community, they gain an extended family, more than 1200 people strong. 

When one member faces a crisis, the support is unmatched.

Meet Detective Charlie White. Detective White grew up in a small, impoverished town in Kentucky before joining the U.S. Army.  After her military service, she joined Mesa PD as an officer and more recently is working as a detective in the Special Victims Unit. 

A few weeks ago, Detective White’s family and hometown in Kentucky was devastated by unexpected, historic flooding. Detective White lost family and friends in the flooding and others are still missing.

“Most homes have been swept away, the ones that do remain are severely damaged and most roads are gone. Several family members and friends lost their lives attempting to escape their homes and as the days go by, more are being recovered in the debris. The flood death toll is at 38 as of today and will continue to rise as there are many still unaccounted for as of today.” – Det. Charlie White

As time goes by, the help there is also diminishing. Detective White’s family members and loved ones in the community who survived, only have the clothes they left in as they stay in shelters. Others are living in tents where their homes once stood and are likely to be in this situation for months to come. Unfortunately, there isn’t much help being provided to this remote area and most are being told they don’t qualify for any assistance at all. 

While Detective White continues to serve our community, we want to help support her. There are two disaster relief funds that have been set up and are accepting donations.

https://kydistrict6740.org/

(click the red bar under the “About Us” section for the special message from the governor)

https://appalachianky.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419

We are #togethermesa

Man Arrested After Violently Killing East Mesa Man

Mesa Police Officers arrested 61-year-old John Lagana after he used his vehicle to run over and kill a man in east Mesa. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as 63-year-old Christopher Heimer.

On August 12, 2022, just after 12:30 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to the area of 6400 E. Alder Mesa, AZ for multiple reports of someone intentionally using their vehicle to run over another person. A witness used their own firearm and shot a round into the ground, preventing 61-year-old John Lagana from leaving the area and allowing officers to take him into custody immediately when they arrived. 

After speaking with numerous witnesses and reviewing video surveillance cameras, officers learned that 63-year-old Christopher Heimer was walking westbound on Alder at the same time Lagana was driving eastbound on Alder. Lagana swerved out of the roadway and struck Heimer as he was walking on the north sidewalk, throwing him into the landscaping of a fourplex apartment complex. Lagana continued to travel eastbound on the sidewalk, damaging mailboxes and landscaping before turning around and driving back toward Heimer. Witnesses say Lagana again drove onto the sidewalk, into the landscaping and ran over Heimer, who was already lying injured on the ground. Lagana then got out of his vehicle and proceeded to stomp on Heimer’s head multiple times. This is when one witness used their firearm to put an end to Lagana’s actions.

Witnesses further told officers that Lagana was parked in a vacant lot, just northwest of Heimer’s residence, and that Lagana honked his horn repeatedly, until Heimer came out of his home. Observations on scene showed where Lagana accelerated through the empty lot onto the street. Officers also found skid marks from Lagana’s vehicle in the roadway and on the sidewalk where the incident occurred.

Lagana was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $2,000,000 bond:

ARS 13-1105A1; 1^st Degree Murder, a class 1 felony

John Lagana Mug Shot

Hit and Run Suspect Arrested After Hitting 4-year-old

On August 7, 2022, around 4:00 p.m., a silver four door passenger car struck a four-year-old girl at the intersection of Main and Lesueur and then left the scene. Mesa Police Officers relied on witnesses and video surveillance to identify the vehicle and driver. Witnesses told officers that the vehicle had black rims and was driven by a white female with long hair. Video surveillance revealed that the vehicle displayed a black sticker just below the driver side taillight and a red and white object in the back seat.  

The four-year-old girl was transported to a local hospital and is currently being treated for a brain bleed, broken ribs, a punctured lung, facial lacerations, and facial fractures. She is expected to survive.

Twenty- Four hours later, on August 8, 2022, officers located a silver 2014 Hyundai that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was located at an apartment complex at 33 S. Ashland Mesa, AZ. The vehicle was parked in a designated parking spot, which led officers to the corresponding apartment, where officers spoke to 48-year-old Veronica Laprada. Laprada was identified as the registered owner of the Hyundai and the driver of the vehicle at the time of collision.

Laprada was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $50,000 bond:

ARS 28-661A2; Failing to Remain on Scene of a Serious Physical Injury Collision, a class 3 felony.

Veronica Laprada Mug Shot

Man Arrested for Killing Passenger in Mesa Crash

On July 31, 2022, just after 3:00 p.m., a Nissan Sentra was traveling south on Gilbert Rd. at a high rate of speed. For an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a short thick metal pole, which was used to protect the power lines just south of Decatur St. The passenger, 35-year-old Kasey Galvan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver and husband of Kasey, 35-year-old Mario Galvan, remained on scene. Mesa Police Officers had Galvan complete Field Sobriety Tests. Impairment was observed and Galvan was taken into custody.

Galvan was booked into jail for the following charge and held on a $250, 000 bond:

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

Thick metal poles used to protect power lines

Nissan Sentra

Mario Galvan Mug Shot

Mesa Police Department Begins Encryption of all Patrol Radio Frequencies

Today, the Mesa Police Department will initiate their patrol radio encryption program.  All Mesa Police Department radio frequencies will be encrypted.  This encryption program will complete a year long process that will bring the Mesa Police Department in line with the best practices established by other major police agencies throughout the United States. The main reasons for the encryption process are: 

1. To help protect personal identifying information that may be broadcasted over a radio frequency
2. To enhance officer safety by preventing the criminal element from discovering real time police locations, tactics, and strategies during a police response
3. To assist in maintaining the integrity of criminal investigations 

Transparency and the positive relationship we share with our community is of the utmost importance to the Mesa Police Department.  To balance the need for transparency and the safety of the public and our officers, all radio traffic will be available to the public with a one-hour time delay.

Privately purchased police scanners will not be able to receive encrypted radio traffic. To listen to the Mesa Police Department radio traffic, with the one-hour time delay, please access the below streaming links for each of our Patrol Districts:

Central Patrol District

Fiesta Patrol District

Red Mountain Patrol District

Superstition Patrol District

These links can also be accessed on the Mesa Police Department’s website, 

https://www.mesaazpolice.gov/about-mesa-pd/communications/radio-frequencies 

Or via the Broadcastify® application that is available in either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Mesa Police Seize Illegal Fireworks from Two Mesa Locations

Over the past two weeks the Mesa Police Department, with assistance from the Mesa Fire/Medical Department, has seized large quantities of prohibited fireworks from two different locations in Mesa.

One of the seizures occurred in the area of 1200 N. Mesa Dr. in Mesa on 6-29-22. This investigation involved not only seizing large quantities of prohibited fireworks, but also led to the arrest of a suspect with a violent criminal history. This investigation began when a detective located an on-line add reference the sale of prohibited fireworks in Mesa. Detectives were able to purchase the illegal fireworks and later served a search warrant seizing 1665 packages of fireworks valued at $7,755.00 and two AR-15 rifles. The suspect, 40-year-old George Baber, was booked on Misconduct Involving Weapons/Prohibited Possessor and misdemeanor charges related to fireworks violations will be filed through the Mesa City Court.

The other seizure occurred at a Liquor/Smoke Shop located in the area of 300 W. Brown in Mesa. After receiving an anonymous tip of the store selling illegal fireworks Mesa Police Detectives opened an investigation. During the course of this investigation undercover detectives entered the store and visually saw the illegal fireworks on display and were able to purchase them from store employees. After the purchase was made a search warrant was executed on the store on 6-24-22. During the search warrant 129 prohibited fireworks with a total value of $4,052.00 were seized. There are pending criminal charges on the store owner. The Mesa Fire/Medical Department assisted in the safe storage of the seized fireworks after they were seized.

1200 N Mesa Drive

300 W. Brown

The Mesa Police Department is fully committed to the enforcement of firework laws, both the use and sale of prohibited fireworks. The use of prohibited fireworks is not only illegal but is extremely dangerous. They create a fire hazard as well as an injury hazard. The Mesa Police Department will be out in force on the 4th of July enforcing fireworks laws.

For more information on what is legal and not legal when it comes to fireworks in Mesa, please go to https://fire.mesaaz.gov/community-outreach/fireworks for further information. If you have any information reference illegal firework sales or illegal firework use, please call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211.

Circle K Armed Robbery Suspects Arrested

On June 17, 2022, members of the Mesa Police Department's Major Crimes Unit in conjunction with members of the Arizona WANTED Task Force arrested 49-year-old Brandie Walker and her boyfriend, 48-year-old Johnathan Roy, for three counts of Armed Robbery after they robbed three separate Circle K convenient stores with a weapon.

The crime spree started on May 14, 2022, around 9:00 p.m., when a woman put on a black wig and entered the Circle K located at 2005 W. Broadway Mesa, AZ with a handgun. The victim told Mesa Police Officers that the woman demanded money from the cash register while displaying a gun. After providing money to the woman, the victim jumped over the counter and disarmed her. The woman ran from the store, leaving her loaded handgun in the hands of the victim, who then gave it to police.

On May 19, 2022, at 4:45 a.m., officers were sent to another armed robbery at a Circle K located at 1959 S. Greenfield. The victim told officers that a man wearing a gray wig came into the store with a handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The man had a distinct tattoo on his right arm and wore easily recognizable clothing.

The third and final armed robbery occurred on June 12, 2022, just after 1:00 a.m. The Circle K at 1557 S. Val Vista was robbed by a woman wearing a brown wig armed with a handgun. This time, the woman left the scene in a vehicle driven by a man. Officers were able to retrieve the vehicle license plate number through Circle K video surveillance.

The Arizona WANTED Task Force located the vehicle at a hotel near Country Club Dr/ Hampton and eventually took Walker and Roy into custody. A search warrant was written and served on the vehicle and hotel room, allowing officers to collect evidence of the crime, to include a black BB gun and a black wig.

Brandie Walker was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $40,500 bond:

(3 counts) ARS 13-1904A2; Armed Robbery, a class 2 felony  

1 Mesa City Warrant

1 Phoenix City Warrant

Brandie Walker Mug Shot

Johnathan Roy was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $50,000 bond:

(3 counts) ARS 13-1904A2; Armed Robbery, a class 2 felony

Johnathan Roy Mug Shot

Drive By Shooter Arrested

On May 15, 2022, just after midnight, Mesa Police Officers were dispatched to the area of 400 South Stewart for reports of gunshots. When officers arrived, they located approximately 98 spent rounds scattered on south Stewart to west Vine Ave (approximately ¼ mile.) Of the 98 spent rounds, officers discovered several different types: 9mm, .40 caliber, and .223/ 5.56 assault rifle casings. 

Officers located a victim, who had been hosting a party on Stewart, and learned that 21-year-old Jorge de Jesus Rubio had tried to attend the party but was denied access due to his behavior at a prior party held in March. The victim told officers that Jorge was armed with a handgun and that another man with him had an assault rifle. After being told to leave, Jorge and the other subjects walked back to their vehicle.

A witness told officers they watched gunfire come from the vehicle as it drove away south on Stewart and then west on Vine Ave.

The victim later found two bullet holes on their house and one on a family member’s vehicle. At the time of the shooting, the house was occupied by several people, to include children.

On May 24, 2022, Phoenix Police Officers stopped Jorge after reports of him entering an intersection and doing “donuts” with his vehicle. During their investigation, officers located an empty gun case, a loaded black handgun, and an unknown amount of ammunition. The vehicle was towed.

On May 25, 2022, Mesa Police Officers wrote and served a search warrant for access to Jorge’s vehicle. Two boxes of different brands of 9mm ammunition, a 22 round magazine containing two .40 caliber rounds, loose 9mm ammunition, and an empty Glock gun box were seized. 

On June 8, 2022, Jorge was arrested. He was booked into jail for the following charges and held on a $250,000 bond:

ARS 13-1209.A; Drive by Shooting, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1211.A; Discharging a Firearm at an Occupied Structure, a class 2 felony

ARS 12-3102.A.4; Prohibited Possessor, a class 4 felony

Jorge de Jesus Rubio Mug Shot

GILA MONSTER RESCUED DURING DUI INVESTIGATION

On June 5, 2022, around 11:25 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to a convenient store parking lot in the 1100 block of S. Signal Butte for a male subject, later identified as 37-year-old Brandon Denney, sleeping behind the wheel of a running vehicle. The caller described Denney as “nodding off” and said he would mumble and shout. 

When officers arrived, they found Denney still sleeping with an orange pill bottle in his hand. Officers woke Denney up and saw that his eyes were red, and pupils constricted. Denney agreed to do field sobriety tests.

While completing the field sobriety tests, officers noticed a Gila Monster poking his head out of a box in Denney’s vehicle. Denney said he had run the Gila Monster over with his vehicle and decided to pick it up after seeing it was injured.  

Ultimately, Denney was taken into custody for driving under the influence. During an inventory search of his vehicle, officers found cocaine, methamphetamine, a fentanyl pill, and several items of drug paraphernalia.

Officers also discovered that Denney had three felony warrants for his arrest; two from California, both for Kidnapping with bonds of $1,050,000 and $300,000 and the third warrant was from Nevada for Attempted Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle for $50,000.

The Gila Monster was turned over to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The AZGFD opened their own investigation and will be charging Denney appropriately (it is illegal to own or sell a Gila Monster in Arizona without a permit). Unlike Denney’s story, the Gila Monster did not appear to be run over and had no visible injuries.

Gila Monster

Brandon Denney