Cop Shop

Mesa police arrested Shawn Miller on suspicion of burglary and impersonating an officer Thursday evening. At around 8 p.m., residents of a house in the 2100 block of West Jibsail Loop returned to find their property broken into and several electronic items missing. The victims called police and while checking the house were confronted by a man later identified as Miller, who was in the house with gloves on. Miller told the victims to hang up the phone and showed them a wallet badge. He identified himself as detective Miller and said he was on an investigation. The victims didn’t believe him, and he ran from the house, with the victims chasing him.

Police found Miller when an officer working in an unmarked vehicle located a man who matched the suspect’s description. Police found Miller with a badge wallet that he initially said wasn’t his. They found Miller’s identification inside the wallet. Police said Miller has an outstanding felony burglary warrant.

During the investigation, Miller admitted entering the residence and taking a laptop computer. He directed detectives to a vehicle belonging to his wife near the crime scene. Inside was the laptop, along with numerous burglary tools.

At around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Mesa police responded to a possible shoplifting in progress at Blockbuster video, 2706 E. University Drive. Three men got into their white Chevy S-10 Extreme pickup as an officer approached it on foot.  The driver backed out of his parking space and drove at a high rate of speed toward the officer, who jumped to get out of the way of the vehicle.

The men, who had three small children in their vehicle, are described as approximately 50 years old wearing a gray T-shirt and glasses, approximately 20 years old wearing a black T-shirt, and approximately 20 years old wearing a red Cleveland Cavaliers basketball jersey and khaki pants.

They are being sought on changes of aggravated assault on a police officer.

Mesa firefighters were on the scene of a blaze that engulfed several units at an apartment complex near San Jose and Main Street, leaving 11 people without a home Wednesday night, authorities said.

According to fire officials, four apartment units in a single building were fully engulfed with flames about 8 p.m.

Authorities reported no injuries from the fire. The apartment units surrounding the building were evacuated as a precaution; however, the flames did not spread to surrounding buildings and the fire was under control about 9 p.m.

The 11 residents who lived in the apartment building, including four children, were left without a home late Wednesday. Red Cross volunteers were on scene helping the displaced families, authorities said.

Officials do not yet have an estimate of the damage and they do not know what caused the fire.

A man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stabbing two men in the neck with a pocketknife after participating in sex acts with them.

John West, 38, who is homeless and sometimes lives at Mesa’s Park of the Canals, was arrested on suspicion of two counts aggravated assault.

Court records say West met a man and his live-in boyfriend at the park and later went to their home and drank alcohol and watched a movie with them. After the group had sex, West went to the bathroom and came back into the bedroom with a knife.

The two stab victims said that West stabbed them, but West told police he was defending himself because he was being sexually assaulted and thought he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the home.

Court records say West was given a forensic medical examination, but had did not appear to have been sexually assaulted.

He was booked into Mesa City Jail.

The men with the stab wounds were taken to a local hospital, where one was released and the other was admitted for treatment, court records say.