Conspiracy to Commit Murder - Arrest

On July 27th, 2020 Mesa Police Detectives were informed that a defendant, later identified as 59-yr old Lance Rohrer, was planning to abduct a 12-year old and hold the child for ransom.

Investigators obtained numerous audio recordings of Rohrer speaking to another person actively planning the abduction of the 12 year old. The 12-year old is the son of the car dealership owner where Rohrer works. Rohrer then met with an undercover detective and began making plans regarding the abduction to include a ransom of 2 million dollars and the use of a cheap motel. Rohrer purchased three burner phones to be used during the planning and commission of the crime and provided the undercover detective with the victim name and a possible address.

Rohrer was heard multiple times talking about killing the kid and being okay with it if the abduction plans did not work. On August 26, 2020 Mesa Police Officers placed Rohrer into custody and charged him with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit theft by extortion.

We are proud of the thorough investigation conducted by our detectives and grateful for the good working relationship we have with our federal law enforcement partners. At the request of the Mesa Police Department, the FBI Phoenix Field Office assisted with investigative and technical resources.

Officer Involved Accident - Update

The Officer involved in yesterday’s accident on US60 is Officer Sean Stoddard. Sean has been with our Department for over 13 years and has been known for his excellent work helping veterans through his nonprofit group “Archangels”. Sean is a military veteran himself and is currently still serving in the Armed Forces.

Sean is currently in critical condition at the hospital, and we are hopeful he will continue to make positive strides toward recovery as he is attended to by family, friends and the best medical professionals. We are grateful for our community’s support at this time and we wish Sean a speedy recovery.

Last year we posted a video about Sean and his decision to become an officer. You can see that video here: https://www.facebook.com/MesaAzPD/videos/517386742431050/

Here is a blog post we shared a few months ago regarding his work with veterans and the Archangels. 

https://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5669/16?fbclid=IwAR1lJqTDgze6rhFRuPiZJGsk6AP9Q9xYiDMeo_7TP9r04KFJRweTPqEWTGw

Two Brothers Arrested; One Woman Shot in Road Rage Incident

Two women were driving in the area of Rio Salado Pkwy and Country Club in Mesa when the occupants inside a sedan became enraged and began yelling at them. The driver of the sedan, 27-year-old Andres Nunez, began swerving into the victims’ car, nearly striking it. His 29-year-old brother Arturo Nunez was also in the car along with a girlfriend.

When both cars reached the intersection at Rio Salado and Country Club, a verbal fight broke out and continued when Arturo and the women got out of their cars. The women heard Arturo yell “west side” while showing the victims his hand in a shape of a “W”. Arturo began hitting the hood of the victims’ car while continuing to yell at them. One of the victims then hit Arturo’s car, prompting the girlfriend and brother to get out.

Realizing they were outnumbered, the woman driver yelled to her passenger to get back in the car just as the passenger was pushed to the ground by Arturo. The driver saw he was holding a gun so she jumps into the car and drives to a nearby parking lot, striking Arturo while attempting to flee. Andres then opens fire, hitting the driver three times – twice in the leg and once in the shoulder -- out of about 12 shots fired. She has non-life threatening injuries.

Mesa Police Officers arrived just as the shooting stopped. Arturo yelled “west side” and “Phoeniquera” at officers as they were giving commands. Arturo did not obey officers’ commands so several bean bag rounds were deployed. He eventually was arrested along with Andres.

Mesa PD’s K9 Rico Instrumental in Catching Burglary Suspect

Mesa Police officers respond to a burglary call at the Goodwill Store near Power and McDowell on January 12, 2020. The reporting party was monitoring the suspect inside the business via a live camera. When the suspect realizes officers are surrounding the building, he runs out and hides in an enclosed area outside the main building.

After the suspect refuses to surrender, K9 Officer Ron Swart sends his dog, Rico, to search the enclosed area. Rico bites the suspect after finding him hiding above the axle of a semi-trailer. The suspect verbally surrenders and no further use of force was required. 

The suspect, 44-year-old Russell Smith, was transported to the hospital for his bite injuries.

A backpack was recovered where Russell was hiding with cash in it. A known amount of money was taken from Goodwill, almost the same amount found in Russell’s backpack.  

Russell admits to prying open the back door and using a grinder to cut into the safe.

Russell is being charged with two felonies – 3^rd degree burglary and criminal damage.

Package Theft - Arrest

On December 14, 2019 Mesa Police Officers were dispatched to the area of 2900 E Pueblo for a report of a suspicious person possibly stealing packages from residential doorways. Officers located and contacted the suspect who was later identified as 37 year old Nicole Watson. Watson was caught with several packages in her possession that had just been stolen. She admitted to stealing the packages from multiple homes and was also found to be in possession of dangerous drugs. Nicole was charged with three counts of Theft, one count of Possession of a Dangerous Drug, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The investigation also revealed she may have been involved in additional thefts and a stolen vehicle investigation out of Chandler.

On December 15, 2019 Officers located the stolen vehicle at the Home Depot at 435 S Val Vista and eventually arrested a male driver of that vehicle. Additional stolen packages were in the vehicle and have been returned to their original owners. The suspect in this stolen vehicle case was identified as 24 year old Alan Preciado-Cruz. Preciado-Cruz was charged with one count of Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Great work by all involved and happy the victims were able to get their packages back just before the holidays. If you see suspicious activity call and report it.

Alan Preciado-Cruz

Nicole Watson 

Operation Naughty List - Prostitution Arrests

The Mesa Police Department recently carried out Operation Naughty List, an undercover operation targeting the demand for sex crimes and human trafficking. Throughout the operational period, officers and undercover detectives were contacted by suspects who solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were subsequently arrested.

The Mesa Police Department routinely conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels human sex trafficking from our community. The suspects in this operation ranged in age from 26 to 80 years old.

The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims who have been exploited or trafficked. If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888. Their website is https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.
For more information about human exploitation and trafficking and how to help, please visit: http://mesaaz.gov/residents/police/departments-divisions/mesa-family-advocacy-center/heat

A Former Drug Cartel Member is Arrested for Homicide

Daniel Villalobos-Espinoza, (DOB 5/16/1995), was arrested by Mesa Police on December 4, 2019, at 557 S. Olive #A. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Carlos Osuna-Apodaca on November 30, 2019, someone who had worked for the same drug cartels.

A witness said Daniel’s brother, Jesus Villalobos-Espinoza, stopped by the apartment to visit the victim but he went to his room. Shortly after, the witness heard two gunshots, opened the door and found Osuna-Apodaca with a gunshot wound to the head and neck, bleeding and unresponsive. The witness then saw Daniel, standing in the apartment with a handgun, telling the witness to mind his own business. Police confirmed the witness information.

In addition, a friend of the brothers told police that Daniel and Jesus had disputes with the victim in the past and that one of the brothers was probably going to shoot Osuna-Apodaca.

 Daniel Villalobos-Espinoza

After a search warrant was served, police found a gun matching the caliber of the murder weapon.

Meanwhile, under Miranda, Jesus told police he was at the victim’s residence when his brother Daniel showed up unexpectedly. Jesus said he went outside to smoke a cigarette but took off after he heard two gunshots inside. Daniel later told Jesus that he and Osuna-Apodaca both worked for the drug cartels as a desert spotter and through third-party information, learned Osuna-Apodaca had been ordered by the cartels to kill him. So, Daniel decided to kill the victim first.

When police arrive, Daniel initially denied committing the murder but then learned of his brother’s statement to police so Daniel confessed. He said Osuna-Apodaca was not armed and his bedroom door was locked. Daniel admits to shooting the victim in the head and then reshooting him just in case he was still alive.  

Homicide Arrest

On November 25, 2019 at approximately 4:00 pm Mesa Police were dispatched to Rotary Park located at 205 West 8th Ave in Mesa reference a subject stabbed and not breathing. Officers found a male victim lying on the concrete walkway not breathing, with a stab wound to the chest. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Initial responding Officers located multiple transients in the park and asked if anyone saw anything. One of the males, later identified as Anthony Hollingshead, told the officer that he stabbed the victim while defending his wife and the knife used was in his pocket. The officer took the knife out of the defendant’s pocket and secured it. Hollingshead was transported to the Mesa Police station for an interview.

Hollingshead said he has hung out at the park almost every day for the past month and has had numerous run ins with the victim. Hollingshead said the victim has been harassing towards his wife and has tried to take items out of his cart full of personal belongings. Hollingshead admitted to being in an altercation with the victim and said he was punched so he automatically responded by punching back one time in the chest area. He admitted to having his fully extended knife in his hand at the time he punched back.

A search of the surrounding area and victim’s clothing was negative for any other weapons. Hollingshead’s story was not consistent with other witness accounts and he has been charged with one count of 2nd degree murder.

Homicide Arrest

On Monday November 11, 2019 at approximately 3:00 pm Mesa Police responded to the Windemere Motel, 5750 E. Main St. #204, regarding a female who stated she had been shot. Upon arrival officers located two gunshot victims inside the room, one adult male and one adult female. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene and the female was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

The female stated a male named Tony shot them because he thought they stole his drugs. The defendant was identified as 44-year-old Anthony Wayne Gushee.
A search warrant was obtained at the crime scene and detectives located a quantity of crystal like substance that appeared to be methamphetamine packaged for sale as well as numerous syringes containing a liquid substance.

At approximately 11:50 pm detectives located Anthony at 9333 E Apache Trail where he was taken into custody without incident. Anthony said he goes by Tony and when asked about the crime he requested an attorney and invoked his right to remain silent. Anthony has a prior history of drug related offenses.

Anthony has been charged with one count of Second Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault. The investigation remains ongoing.

Laser Pointed at Aircraft - Arrest Made

On 10/26/19 the Mesa Police Air Unit was flying around the area of 1140 S 111th Circle in Mesa, AZ when a green laser was pointed at them. They notified ground units of the approximate location and then returned and were again pointed at by the green laser. Ground units observed the suspect pointing the laser and he was identified as 30-year-old Phillip Merrell. Officers learned Phillip had pointed the laser the day before at a commercial airliner from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Officers also learned there were numerous other recent complaints from pilots saying someone in the area was shining a laser at them. Phillip said he didn’t know it was illegal to point a laser at an occupied aircraft.

Phillip was arrested and charged with one count of pointing a laser at an occupied aircraft and one count of endangerment involving risk of imminent death.