DPS troopers involved in Mesa shooting, suspect in critical condition
Jun 7, 2020, 2:45 PM | Updated: 3:17 pm
(Twitter Photo/@MesaPD)
(Twitter Photo/@MesaPD)
PHOENIX – One man is in critical condition after an officer-involved shooting Saturday in Mesa.
As of 2:17 p.m. on Sunday, the suspect remained in critical, yet stable, condition, authorities said.
The Mesa Police Department confirmed in an email to KTAR News 92.3 FM that Gilbert police received a call on Saturday regarding suicidal threats made by the suspect.
After the Gilbert Police Department issued an Attempt to Locate, Chandler police notified other agencies they had identified the suspect’s vehicle around 9 p.m.
Following active attempts to stop the vehicle, Chandler police followed the suspect at a distance as he traveled east on the Loop 202.
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The suspect eventually made his way to Ellsworth Road, traveling southbound near Pecos Road. The suspect was said to be driving erratically without the use of headlights.
As the suspect approached Pecos Road, police said the vehicle went up and over a curb before striking a traffic light on on the southwest corner of Ellsworth and Pecos roads and flipped several times before coming to rest.
Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed through traffic when it crashed.
After the collision, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers later located the vehicle with the assistance of the Mesa air unit.
Police said the suspect then began threatening to kill DPS troopers after exiting his vehicle from the driver’s side window.
“The suspect was seen reaching for something around his abdominal area and pulled out what was described by the DPS officers as a dark and shiny object about 8 inches in length,” the email stated.
“Believing the object to possibly be a weapon, two DPS officers fired their weapons striking the suspect at least twice.”
“A black and silver fishing pole, about 8-12 inches in length, was then found on the ground near where the suspect had been shot,” authorities said
The suspect was then transported to the hospital in serious condition.
It was the third DPS officer-involved shooting of 2020.
No officers were injured in the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
It was the 22nd shooting involving an officer in 2020, according to data tracked by KTAR News 92.3 FM.
