Suspect in custody following hours-long Mesa SWAT standoff triggered by road rage

A suspect is in custody following a hours-long SWAT stand-off in the East Valley that began as an alleged road rage incident Friday afternoon.

Mesa Police officers were called around 3 p.m. to the area of Val Vista Drive and the U.S. 60 freeway after receiving reports of a driver pointing a gun at another motorist.

Authorities identified the suspect as 34-year-old Israel Sosa.

When officers located Sosa’s vehicle and attempted to pull him over, he fled the scene.

The Mesa Police Air Unit tracked the vehicle from above to a home near the 100 block of North 74th Street, where Sosa barricaded himself inside.

SWAT teams from both Mesa and Chandler police departments responded to help in resolving the standoff.

After several hours of negotiations, Sosa walked out of the residence and was taken into custody without further incident.

No injuries were reported during the operation.

Charges against Sosa are pending, according to authorities. Streets in the surrounding neighborhood have reopened to traffic, though officers remain on scene as the investigation moves forward.

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