Police Activity in Bashas Parking Lot

[Chunk]

There is an incident that occured last night in the Bashas parking lot, near or in Great Wall.

Police have roped off the area from Anytime Fitnessover and just past Great Wall and up towards Bank of America


By crbenesch at 2012-01-30

Sorry about the bad picture, I wasnt brave enough to go up close like our other photogs.

Unverified rumors state that it was a stabbing at Great Wall that may have included a fatality.  Again, those are unconfirmed.  I'll be trying to get a response out of MPD or PCSO and let you know as soon as I know

[Chunk]

According to Tim Gaffney at the Pinal County Sherriff's office, they are investigating an officer involved shooting and the area is expected to be closed off for several more hours.  There are no details about the business(es) involved and/or victim names due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Please avoid it if possible.

I would like to personally thank the officers involved for their bravery and the job that they do for us every day.

[eddie]

We just got shooed away from the water store by a police volunteer. It looked like there was a blue blanket or cover over something that looked like a body in front of the Great Wall.

[mallardisme]

I have a request into the City. I also have someone heading out there. Should have more details in a bit.

[mallardisme]

I spoke to Elias Johnson who is the Public Information Officer for Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

He is heading to the scene right now and should arrive in afew moments.

This is what he had as preliminary information.

Between 1 and 2 am a man armed with a knife entered the restaraunt. There was a language issue as he spoke Spanish. Employees spoke English or Madarin. The suspect also appeared to be impaired.

Maricopa PD arrived and attempted to negotiate with the male suspect. PCSO was called in to assist. During the standoff, no hostages were taken.

MPD attempted to use non-lethal force against the suspect. The suspect made an aggresive move with the knife and was mortally wounded.

PCSO is leading this investigation. Investigation is ongoing.

[KendoPt4]

Damn, Great Wall has some crazier hours than I remember.

[mallardisme]

According to PCSO, this was after hours for them.

[Desert Dweller]

The poor guy was just looking for his cat. 

[ForcedFriction]

I spoke to Elias Johnson who is the Public Information Officer for Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

He is heading to the scene right now and should arrive in afew moments.

This is what he had as preliminary information.

Between 1 and 2 am a man armed with a knife entered the restaraunt. There was a language issue as he spoke Spanish. Employees spoke English or Madarin. The suspect also appeared to be impaired.

Maricopa PD arrived and attempted to negotiate with the male suspect. PCSO was called in to assist. During the standoff, no hostages were taken.

MPD attempted to use non-lethal force against the suspect. The suspect made an aggresive move with the knife and was mortally wounded.

PCSO is leading this investigation. Investigation is ongoing.

I sure hope that this is inaccurate information. I could give a crap what race the suspect is. There are too many alternatives to lethal force when approaching a person with a knife. Bean bags, rubber bullets, mace, taser.... termination should be the final option. Nobody should have been close enough to the suspect to be threatened with a knife. Now if the suspect was within reach of one of the victims.....

[Desert Dweller]

I agree with FF - however it does look like the cops did their part.  If they hit the guy with three bean bags and he didn't go down, then lethal force is in order.  I would be interested to see if TASER was an option - not all cops carry them.

MARICOPA, AZ (KPHO) - A man has been killed by police after he allegedly threatened them with a meat cleaver.

Pinal County Sheriff's Office said before 10 p.m. Sunday, Maricopa Police Department was called to The Great Wall of China restaurant along SR347 for a man with a knife who wouldn't leave.

The police department called PCSO for assist.

The police department hit the suspect with three bean bag rounds, then the man pulled a meat cleaver out of his belt and came toward a PCSO deputy who shot him at 1:15 a.m., according to PCSO.

The suspect died on scene.

There were no other reported injuries in the incident.





http://www.kpho.com/story/16632433/armed-suspect-shot-killed-at-restaurant-by-police

[Havikats]

Holy poop! I'd shoot to kill too if someone came at me with that meat cleaver.

[Tempting Fait]

+1

[ForcedFriction]

I agree with FF - however it does look like the cops did their part.  If they hit the guy with three bean bags and he didn't go down, then lethal force is in order.  I would be interested to see if TASER was an option - not all cops carry them.

MARICOPA, AZ (KPHO) - A man has been killed by police after he allegedly threatened them with a meat cleaver.

Pinal County Sheriff's Office said before 10 p.m. Sunday, Maricopa Police Department was called to The Great Wall of China restaurant along SR347 for a man with a knife who wouldn't leave.

The police department called PCSO for assist.

The police department hit the suspect with three bean bag rounds, then the man pulled a meat cleaver out of his belt and came toward a PCSO deputy who shot him at 1:15 a.m., according to PCSO.

The suspect died on scene.

There were no other reported injuries in the incident.





http://www.kpho.com/story/16632433/armed-suspect-shot-killed-at-restaurant-by-police

...and now the rest of the story. 

[mallardisme]

...and now the rest of the story. 

exactly. That is why I clearly ststed that the information was preliminary. The PIO was actually driving on 347 when I spoke to him.


All of the indications are that PD did what they could to stop the suspect. Unfortunatly, these tactics failed and whatever substance he was under the influence was, seemed to take him far away from reality.

In that situation, when the suspect comes at the officer in the manner described, there is little doubt of the inevitable outcome.

[Desert Dweller]

A couple of questions I have, and there are probably good answers for them, are:

Why wasn't a TASER deployed?  Was there one available?  It would seem that would do a much better job of stopping even a drugged suspect than a bean bag.

Why was backup called from PCSO?  What kept MPD from handling this to conclusion?