Review of Mesa PD use-of-force incident suggests charges aren’t likely
Aug 17, 2018, 4:04 PM | Updated: Aug 18, 2018, 9:18 pm
PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office concluded that a conviction for aggravated assault was unlikely in a use-of-force incident involving the Mesa Police Department and a 15-year-old suspect earlier this year.
In findings released Friday, Bill Montgomery’s office said “there is no reasonable likelihood of securing a conviction for aggravated assault” against two officers involved in the May 16 arrest of an armed robbery suspect.
The investigation was conducted by the Scottsdale Police Department. It consisted of viewing body camera video from multiple officers, witness statements and an interview with the suspect.
According to the report, the suspect confirmed that he continued to move while officers tried to secure him and search for a weapon that had been used in the robbery of a nearby convenience store.
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The review did not assess whether the use-of-force incident complied with Mesa Police policies.
Two officers were placed on leave after the incident.
The suspect was charged with multiple crimes, including armed robbery with a deadly weapon.
Police were called to a Circle K near Country Club Drive and McLellan Road after the boy allegedly pointed a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle at the store and at least one patron. He also allegedly smashed in a car windshield, according to police documents.
It was one of several incidents that came to light earlier this year in which Mesa officers were accused of excessive force.
Shortly before the two officers were placed on leave, five other officers had been placed on leave after video surfaced of them repeatedly punching an unarmed man who had been talking on his cell phone.
