Suspect identified in officer-involved shooting with Mesa police on Friday

PHOENIX — The suspect in an officer-involved shooting with Mesa police on Friday was identified and booked on multiple charges, authorities said.

Paul Newman, 54, faces multiple felonies including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting from the incident that took place around 9:30 p.m. near University Drive and 80th Street, the Mesa Police Department said in a press release.

Two officers with the department were working on a violent crime suppression project in a marked car when they allegedly witnessed Newman jaywalking across five lanes of traffic in the middle of the road and saw a vehicle almost hit him.

The officers contacted Newman and immediately noticed a large bulge on the right side of his body, authorities said.

Newman refused to sit down and went into a crouched position, police said.

He then stood up when one of the officers tried to approach him and pulled a gun from the left side of his waist, proceeding to fire one round into the ground while raising the gun toward the officer, authorities said.

The officer pushed him to create distance and both fired their weapons, striking Newman several times.

Newman was treated at the scene before being taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A gun was found next to Newman on the ground and a second gun was also found in his waistband rolled up in a blue bandana, authorities said.

It was also discovered Newman had a $100,000 warrant for his arrest out of Coconino County for possession of dangerous drugs, Mesa police said, and also had a large number of illegal drugs in his backpack.

Newman was released from the hospital on Tuesday and booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

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