Man arrested after eat-and-run at Mesa grocery store

MESA — He wanted to eat and run, but in the end was placed in cuffs and hauled off to jail.

According to police, 30-year-old Christian Javier Cuevas entered a Mesa supermarket on Aug. 18, refused to pay for the food he had eaten inside the store and attempted to walk out with a bag of goods.

When officers arrived on scene, the incident turned violent.

“The female officer was punched in the face, the male was also punched a couple of times,” said Mesa Police Sergeant Tony Landato. “We had to have units respond in code three to get him into custody.”

The officers were exposed to the suspect’s blood during the brawl, but fortunately, they didn’t have open wounds which would require immediate medical attention.

Both the officers and the suspect received minor bruises and abrasions. The suspect was later booked on two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and other charges.