Police arrest suspect linked to Mesa, Gilbert mailbox explosions
Jun 1, 2021, 2:00 PM | Updated: 2:52 pm
(Mesa Police Department)
PHOENIX – Mesa police have arrested a man linked to mailbox explosions in two East Valley cities, authorities announced Saturday.
John Janecek, 40, was arrested Friday in connection to five mailboxes that were destroyed by an unknown explosive device in Mesa and Gilbert between March 12-15, police said.
Four incidents took place in Mesa and one took place in Gilbert. The last incident led officers to believe the explosive devices used were a sort of consumer firework, authorities said.
Police were able to identify Janecek’s vehicle after video footage from surveillance cameras captured him at three of the Mesa cases.
Officers also found videos on social media of Janecek making and setting off consumer fireworks.
Phone records further showed the man had been in the area of two incidents.
When Janecek was arrested by Mesa police officers, he informed them that he apologized to the business owner of the first incident and paid him $30 to compensate for the damages.
He went on to confess to blowing up at least three mailboxes, according to Mesa police.
Janecek was booked into Fourth Avenue Jail for five counts of first-degree burglary, five counts of disorderly conduct, and one count of being in possession of dangerous drugs.