Mesa Police take part in initiative to combat distracted driving

 Mesa Police To Combat Distracted Driving

The Mesa Police Department will be taking part in a citywide initiative to combat distracted driving.

 As part of the initiative, the Mesa Police Department is working to raise awareness about the importance of attentive and engaged driving, and is focusing on the dangers distracted driving poses to everyone on the road, including other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

 Arizona law prohibits drivers from using their phone while driving, including writing, sending, or reading electronic messages, using apps or browsing the internet while driving,

• Holding or supporting a wireless device while driving.
• This includes, but is not limited to, your hands and perched on your shoulder.
• Read, write, or send a message via any portable wireless communication device.
• Scroll through social media, watch videos, record videos, or any other use of the device that causes a distraction and requires the use of your body.

The first violation will result in a fine up to $150 and subsequent violations can be as much as $250, plus applicable surcharges.

The Mesa Police Department suggest the following safety tips:

• Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
• Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example. Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
• Speak up when a driver uses an electronic device behind the wheel. Offer to make the call for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the road.
• Always wear your seat belt.  Seat belts are your best defense against unsafe drivers.
• Be alert for pedestrians and cyclists, especially those who may themselves be distracted.
• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
• Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
• Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
• Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination
• Read about how to enable Do Not Disturb While Driving, so you aren't tempted by notifications. 
• Apple iOS- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208090
• Google Android- https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/10217503?hl=en

For more information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving#issue-what-distracted-driving

 

You Can't Hide From Our K9

On February 12, 2022, around 4:00 a.m., an adult woman was standing on the Light Rail platform of Alma School/ Main when she was hit from behind by an unknown person and knocked to the ground. This person, later identified as 39-year-old Leon Jones, proceeded to hit the victim in the head and grabbed her neck until she went unconscious.  

When the victim regained consciousness, Jones was on top of her. Jones continued to punch the victim all over her upper body and face, telling her that she would not be able to call the police. Jones forcibly removed the victim’s clothing from the waist up, leaving her breasts exposed. He grabbed her breasts and choked her.

A witness, who is a security guard for a local business, heard the victim screaming and ran to her aid. Upon his arrival, Jones got up and ran away from the scene.

The victim told police that she did not know who Jones was and has never seen him before.

With the help of both the witness and the victim, officers gathered enough detailed information about Jones to start looking for him.

Officers swarmed the area and set up a perimeter. K9 Officer Hasso responded and picked up the scent of Jones. Within 20 minutes, K9 Officer Hasso located Jones hiding under a box behind some bushes in the area and signaled to his handler.

Jones did not follow commands and was shot with one less lethal bean bag round to the buttocks. He was then taken into custody.

Jones was identified by the witness as the person he saw assaulting the victim. He was booked into jail for the following charges and held on $25,000 bond.

 

1 count ARS 13-1304A3- Kidnapping, a class 2 felony.

1 count ARS 13-1404A- Sexual Abuse, a class 5 felony.

1 count ARS 13-1204A4- Aggravated Assault, a class 6 felony.

Leon Jones Mug Shot

 

Mesa Police Arrest Serial Burglar

Since October 24, 2021, Mesa Police Officers have been looking for a serial burglar who targeted retirement communities in east Mesa, burglarizing numerous homes and vehicles. On December 30, 2021, these photographs were released to the public in hopes that someone could identify him. The Mesa Police Department is thankful for all the tips from the public and assistance from the media reference this crime series.

After combing through multiple tips from the public and utilizing law enforcement databases, officers located an investigative lead, 32-year-old Justin Schuerman. Officers found that Schuerman’s tattoos matched that of the suspect in the surveillance videos and were able to place him in the area of at least four burglaries at the time they occurred.

On January 19, 2022, Mesa Police Officers located and arrested Schuerman without incident.

Schuerman is suspected of committing 19 other burglaries and additional charges will most likely follow pending the outcome of DNA analysis.

Schuerman declined to speak to detectives. He was booked into jail for the following charges and held with no bond.

4 counts ARS 13-1506A1: Burglary 3^rd degree, a class 4 felony

1 count ARS 13-2102.A1: Theft of a Credit Card, a class 5 felony

1 outstanding felony warrant through MCSO

Justin Schuerman Mug Shot

Mesa Officers Deploy the "Grappler” to Stop Suspect Vehicle

On January 18, 2022, around 8:43 a.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to a shots fired call in the 100 block of S. Lazona Mesa, AZ. When officers arrived, they spoke to a witness who said that a black Dodge Charger with a temporary registration tag was speeding up and down the street. This witness yelled at the driver, later identified as 21-year-old Tre-Shawn Dorsett, to slow down. Dorsett continued to speed up and down the street and stopped in front of the witness’ house. He honked the car horn, opened the car door, and began yelling and mocking the witness. The witness responded by taking a photograph of Dorsett before going inside their house. When the vehicle left, this witness heard four gunshots.

A second witness was located, who told officers the same story about the black Dodge Charger speeding up and down the street. This witness was outside of their house at the time and said that the driver held a handgun outside of the window, firing four rounds towards a residence on Lazona. The vehicle sped off while firing an additional two rounds from the vehicle.  

Within two minutes, officers arrived on scene and located the Dodge Charger in the area. Officers observed a male subject getting into the vehicle, who also matched the photograph of the male subject taken by the first witness.

Officers followed the vehicle in conjunction with the Mesa Police Air Unit into Phoenix, where they utilized the Grappler to stop Dorsett’s vehicle. Dorsett was taken into custody without further incident. 

Actual Scene Photographs of the Grappler (from police vehicle to suspect vehicle)

*To see video of the Grappler in action click here: https://policebumper.com/video/ 

Dorsett admitted to officers that he was speeding and that someone yelled at him, but denied having a confrontation with anyone, even when he was shown the photo of himself antagonizing the first witness.

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

ARS 13-3107.A: Discharging a Firearm within City Limits, a class 6 felony.

ARS 13-3102.A4: Prohibited Possessor, a class 4 felony. 

Tre-Shawn Dorsett Mug Shot

Someone Knows Who This Is

We are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a burglary suspect that is involved in multiple vehicle and residential burglaries in east Mesa between the areas of Southern to University and Sossaman to Ellsworth Road.

The suspect is identified as a white male in his twenties, approximately 5’10” to 6’0” tall and average build. He has either a brown or red beard with distinctive tattoos on his neck area and left hand. He has been seen fleeing on a bicycle. The burglaries have occurred over the past three months. Below are security camera photographs of the suspect.

If you or anyone you know can identify this suspect, please call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377).

Mesa Man Arrested After Killing Son

Mesa, AZ (December 20, 2021 6:31 a.m.): Mesa Police Officers responded to a 911 call of a shooting in the 3300 block of East Jerome to find a 19-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds. The male was transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased. 61-year-old, Jeffrey Williams, was arrested and booked into jail for Murder. 

On December 19, 2021, at 12:30 p.m., Jeffrey Williams called 911 and said that he had shot his son, 19-year-old Adam Williams. When officers arrived, Jeffrey surrendered to police without incident. A witness was located from inside the house and confirmed what Jeffrey had told the officers, adding that Adam could be found lying in his own bed.  Adam was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. 

Jeffrey was booked into jail for one count 1^st Degree Murder-DV, ARS 13-1105A1, a class one felony and held on a $1,000,000 bond. 

Jeffrey Williams Mug Shot

Mesa Police Seek Publics Help

 

News Release

Mesa Police seeks public’s help

Mesa, AZ – (December 17^th, 2021 11:08 a.m) The Mesa Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying witnesses to an incident involving a Tempe Police Department Motor Officer last night that resulted in him sustaining injuries. The incident occurred on the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway and the McKellips Road overpass in Mesa.

 

On 12/16/2021 at around 7:20pm, A Tempe Police Department Motor Officer was driving his marked police motorcycle home after getting off work. While traveling southbound on the Red Mountain Freeway approaching the McKellips underpass, the officer was struck by an object that turned out to be a rock. The officer was struck in the helmet and shoulder almost causing him to crash his motorcycle. The officer was able to safely pull to the side of the freeway and radio in for help.

 

The officer was transported to a local hospital with injuries that are non-life threatening. The six-year veteran was later released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

 

The Mesa Police Department is investigating this incident and is seeking the assistance of the community to identify and prosecute who is responsible. If anyone was in this area at the time this incident occurred and saw something that may help this investigation, please reach out at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

 

Situations such as these are extremely dangerous. Throwing objects at any moving vehicle can result in serious injury or death. Help us keep our community safe by reaching out with any information you may have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Man Arrested for Filming Boy Under Bathroom Stall

On December 2, 2021, just before 5:00 p.m., a young boy used the public restroom at a local convenience store, located in the 1900 block of E. Southern Ave Mesa, AZ. While using the restroom, the boy noticed a cell phone propped up against the toilet in the stall next to him.  The cell phone was positioned towards the boy’s bathroom stall and appeared to be recording him using the bathroom.

With clever thinking, the boy made a video recording on his cell phone of what he was seeing. When he left the bathroom stall, he made another video recording of the person in the adjoining stall picking up the cell phone.

The boy waited for the person to leave the bathroom and recorded their description and license plate, supplying this information to Mesa Police Officers. 

Officers used the license plate information provided by the boy to put together a photo line up to include the registered owner’s photograph.  The boy picked out the person who recorded him as the registered owner.

On December 8, 2021, Mesa Police Officers located the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Marvin Barnes, and booked him into jail for the following charge:

ARS 13-1424A; Voyeurism, a class 5 felony.

Without the boy’s smart thinking, it is unknown if the suspect would have ever been located or arrested. Good job to this young victim for thinking outside the box and providing accurate information to assist officers in this case. 

Marvin Barnes Mug Shot

 

Operation Deja Boo

A joint operation involving several law enforcement agencies leads to the arrests of 30 suspects for child sex related crimes.

During the month of October, multiple valley police agencies participated in Operation “Deja Boo.” This operation targeted sex buyers involved in child sex trafficking and those intent on luring minors for sexual exploitation.  The collaborative efforts of those involved led to the filing of child sex related crimes on 30 individuals through the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

This operation was conducted by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler Police Departments, as well as Homeland Security Investigations. The ability of all these agencies to come together and work as a unit led to the success of this operation. The arrests breakdown as follows:

 

o   Phoenix Police:    11 arrests

o   Scottsdale Police: 8 arrests

o   Mesa Police:         7 arrests

o   Chandler Police:   2 arrests

o   Tempe Police:      2 arrests

Arrest totals:           30

 

Below are the suspects who were arrested in the Mesa Police cases. For information on the others, please contact the respective departments listed above.

If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Samuel Davis

Charges:

2 counts- ARS 13-3212.B2 Child Sex Trafficking, 13-2317.A1, Money Laundering

 

Alex Zean

 Charges:

ARS 13-3554.A, Luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, ARS 13-1405.A Attempted Sexual conduct with a minor (3F).

Tom Lindgaard Hansen

Charges:

ARS 13-3212.B2, Child Sex Trafficking, 13-2317.A1, Money Laundering

Jordan Higgins

Charges:

ARS 13-3554.A, luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, ARS 13-1405.A, Attempted Sexual conduct with a minor (3F).

Delbert Lee

Charges:

ARS 13-3554.A, luring of a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, ARS 13-1405.A, Attempted Sexual conduct with a minor (3F). 

David Castaneda Gomez

Charges:

ARS 13-3212.B2, Child Sex Trafficking, 13-2317.A1, Money Laundering,

 

Nathan Ortiz

Charges:

ARS 13-3212.B2, Child Sex Trafficking, 13-2317.A1, Money Laundering

 

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