El Mirage police release video of elementary school lockdown
Aug 17, 2022, 5:30 PM | Updated: 6:40 pm
(El Mirage Police Department Video Screenshot)
(El Mirage Police Department Video Screenshot)
PHOENIX — The El Mirage Police Department on Tuesday released body-worn camera footage of an elementary school lockdown where three people were arrested last week.
Police received a call about a man with a gun trying to enter Thompson Ranch Elementary School around 10:30 a.m., according to the El Mirage Police Department incident update (WARNING: Graphic Content).
Officers responded less than five minutes after receiving the first call and headed in the direction of the campus where the suspect was last seen.
More than 60 police officers, deputies and troopers responded to the call about a man with a gun near the school, located by Grand Avenue and Thompson Ranch Road.
Authorities said they received conflicting reports about the suspect’s whereabouts, and El Mirage police and Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies entered the hallways of the school to conduct a check.
While efforts were being made to secure the campus, family and parents began to arrive.
Vincent Raul Castaneda, 22, who was later arrested on charges of obstructing governmental operations and disorderly conduct, was one of the first family members to arrive, police said.
After officials assured him the suspect hadn’t entered the school, Castaneda shook their hands and returned to his vehicle.
Shortly after, Jonathan Vincent Davis, 22, Castaneda and Darlene Gonzalez, 48, met up.
The three became confrontational with officers, with Davis arguing the officers didn’t know how to handle the situation.
Officers arrested Castaneda for his continued efforts to disrupt operations.
During his arrest, Castaneda’s handgun was lost from his waistband and officers tased him.
Davis ran toward Castaneda while he was being arrested with his hands in the air and officers tased him.
Gonzalez was taken to a hospital with charges pending.
The suspect, Jermaine J. Travis, 33, was arrested several hours later.
At the time of his arrest, authorities said he was unarmed.
Travis, a homeless man, was taken to a facility for evaluation after showing signs of potentially having an intellectual disability.
He faces charges for threatening and disorderly conduct.
The incident remains under investigation.
