Suspect wanted in 4 home invasions arrested in Mesa

PHOENIX — A suspect wanted in four home invasions was arrested in Mesa, authorities said Monday.

Darrus Love Bracewell, 18, was detained Sunday at about 1:30 p.m. in connection with the robberies, three of which Mesa police said occurred between Wednesday and Friday.

Police said Bracewell began the string of home invasions Dec. 10 when he followed a woman and her daughter to their apartment door before placing a screwdriver against the woman’s side, pushed her in the apartment and demanded cash.

When the victim said she didn’t have any cash, Bracewell told the woman he was going to injure her daughter and subsequently punched the woman in the face several times, police said.

Detectives found the screwdriver in the apartment, according to police.

Three more reports of forced entry were made between Wednesday and Friday, including one incident that allowed investigators to create a wanted bulletin because of video evidence from Ring security camera footage.

Bracewell was wanted for attempted sexual assault in addition to the home invasions, but prosecutors declined to charge the suspect after interviewing him and the victims.

Bracewell was charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of attempted burglary, one count of robbery and one count of shoplifting.

When he was in custody at the Mesa jail, Bracewell engaged in a struggle with two detention officers who attempted to stop from hanging himself with his shirt, resulting in two additional charges of aggravated assault, according to police.

An investigation into the incidents remains ongoing.

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