Suspect armed with knife attempted to kidnap woman; pursuit ended on US 60: PD

MESA, Ariz. – The Arizona Department of Transportation says US 60 is closed in both directions due to an officer-involved shooting situation between Country Club Drive and Dobson Road.

Mesa Police say the officers are okay, and the suspect was transported to a hospital.

What they’re saying:

A FOX 10 viewer witnessed the shooting and took video moments after the suspect was shot by police. In the video, you can see a large group of officers with their weapons drawn on the male suspect, who was on the ground with his hands raised.

Carlos Jimenez owns Pelon’s Food Truck, and he watched as the man bolted out in front of traffic before he was shot on the highway.

“I see the guy seeing the cop.. so he started coming through the cops again.. I don’t see any guns in his hands.. he pulled his hands out when the other cops jumped on the freeway.. and he put his hands up.. they told him to probably stop. And he was doing what they were telling him, and they shot him, like three times.”

The other side:

Detective John Dreyer of the Mesa Police Department says just after 4 p.m. on August 10, officers were called to an apartment complex near the 600 block of South Country Club Drive regarding a man threatening with a knife.

“The caller said the man kicked in a door, grabbed a kitchen knife, and attempted to force a female victim into a vehicle.”

Officers arrived a short time later, and the vehicle had already left the complex.

“They immediately pursued the vehicle. That vehicle drove through Mesa city streets, towards the Alma School westbound on-ramp of the US 60. Officers attempted a pit maneuver to stop the vehicle, however, that was unsuccessful. The vehicle did, however, come to a stop just on the shoulder of the on-ramp.

The male suspect jumped out of the vehicle and began running southbound across the travel lanes of the US 60. Officers attempted to tase the male. However, that was unsuccessful, and the male continued running southbound across the travel lanes of the US 60. The male jumped over the median and crossed over the eastbound lanes, and began reaching for his waistband. That is when the officer-involved shooting occurred,” explained Dreyer.

Police say the suspect was struck at least once. No one else was injured due to the shooting, and they confirmed no weapon was found on the suspect.

What we don’t know:

The names of the suspect and officers involved in the shooting were not released.

Dreyer says the suspect is in surgery and is expected to survive.

Road closures:

ADOT says motorists should expect delays and seek an alternate route.

There is no estimated reopening time.

What’s next:

Dreyer says this incident will be investigated by the Gilbert Police Department as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, while the Mesa Police Department will investigate what led up to the shooting.

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