Paradise Valley man dies by suicide during sex abuse investigation, police say

PHOENIX — A Valley man died by suicide Wednesday afternoon during an investigation into allegations that he had sexually abused a minor while working with the Paradise Valley Unified School District, authorities said.

Steven Charles Mitten, 65, took his own life while detectives were attempting to take him into custody, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Detectives with the Phoenix’s Fugitive Apprehension and Investigations Detail stopped Mitten’s vehicle using a grappler around 4:30 p.m., police said. Detectives attempted to take him into custody, but Mitten allegedly refused to comply with commands and was armed with a firearm.

“During the encounter, he ultimately turned the weapon on himself,” Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez said in a media advisory.

Officers removed Mitten from the vehicle, and the Phoenix Fire Department took him to a nearby hospital. He later died from his injuries, authorities said.

Why were police investigating a sexual abuse case?

Police had established probable cause to arrest Mitten after a detective with the Phoenix police’s Crimes Against Children Unit investigated a report filed Monday by an adult woman.

The woman told police she was sexually abused by a staff member from the Paradise Valley Unified School District when she was 16 years old. The abuse continued for approximately three years, police said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM reached out to Paradise Valley Unified School District, but did not receive an immediate response.

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