Latest news with #MesaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mesa should fire every officer who mistakenly held Wesley Leasy at gunpoint
I would like to know why the Mesa Police Department did not fire all of the officers involved in the detention of a former Arizona Cardinals player at Sky Harbor International Airport. The Arizona Republic reported that officers mistakenly stopped and questioned former NFL player Wesley Leasy while he was picking up his daughter. According to the story, police explained they had mistaken Leasy's vehicle for one used as a getaway car in a shooting. His daughter Jade posted on Instagram on April 23 that she and her father were held at gunpoint by police after being wrongly identified. Police in this country are way too violent, and they are going way past protecting innocent citizens and terrifying them instead. They should not get away with it. Jeffrey Davis, Clemmons, N.C. Grand Canyon University announced the disbanding of its men's Division I volleyball program. Athletes complained that they were blindsided by the move. This is a gross mistreatment of athletes, especially considering their many successes in the previous season. Additionally, when an athletic team is typically disbanded, NCAA institutions typically provide a transition year, which the administration at GCU has deemed unnecessary. This seems newsworthy. Benjamin Smith, Phoenix What a well-written story you published on a ranch dog that rescued a small child in northern Arizona. And what a happy ending. The ranch dog found the child while patrolling his owner's ranch land, then ambled home with the boy in tow. Miracles do happen. Without a doubt, Buford the ranch dog should enjoy all the credit for saving this child. Sandi Ashton, Camp Verde U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D.-Ariz., said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have been better suited to be spokesperson for the Department of Defense rather than its secretary. Is Hegseth the Target of the Week designated by Democrat puppet masters, or is Kelly just playing the usual game of ignoring the accomplishments? More letters: AZ Game and Fish only cares about hunters, not wildlife Kelly forgets Hegseth's tours of service and the Bronze Stars he was awarded. He forgets that Defense is enjoying higher morale and higher recruiting numbers. Charles Lopresto, Phoenix There was a story in The Arizona Republic purportedly written by columnist Greg Moore that suggested that the slide of University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the NFL draft was not about racism. My question to you is this: Who really wrote that article, and what have you done with Greg Moore? Ken Doerfler, Glendale For decades a debate has raged over the 65% unemployment rate among working-aged individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, the fact remains the same. Tens of millions of us are currently seeking employment or have just given up out of frustration. While some organizations have made efforts to create a diverse and inclusive workforce, many hiring managers don't believe a person who is blind could work in their organization. The reality is that we are loyal workers and innovators, and live a life of solving problems. Why is this important? The reduced labor force participation by people who are blind creates a multibillion-dollar burden to the U.S. economy. How to solve this issue? Simply put, hire people with disabilities! Invest in this untapped talent pool. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it also is a smart business move. Hiring individuals who are blind or visually impaired brings new perspectives, drives innovation and fosters a more resilient workplace culture. David Steinmetz, Phoenix What's on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@ This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona Cardinals player was mistreated by police | Letters
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect in vandalism at Arizona Tesla dealership seeks to be released before trial
A federal judge will decide on May 2 whether the Mesa man accused of setting a Cybertruck on fire and vandalizing a Tesla dealership in late April should continue to be detained or released before trial. Ian Moses' case is set at 3:30 p.m. in the United States District Court of Arizona before Magistrate Judge Michael T. Morrissey. Attorneys for the United States, in a memo pleading for Moses' pretrial detention, called the 35-year-old a "serious flight risk and danger to the community." They said his "plan of attack" against Tesla "was meticulously planned out; strongly suggesting he will not comply with court ordered conditions and flee if given the opportunity." Moses' alleged willingness to set fire to a vehicle with a lithium-ion battery, attorneys said, "created an extraordinary risk to anyone who could have been nearby. …" But Moses' attorney Anthony Knowles argued pretrial detention was an unwarranted and "extraordinary measure" given the "wide range of release conditions available to the Court." Knowles said Moses had no criminal history and "demonstrated no behaviors that would suggest his inability or unwillingness to follow the Court's orders." He has strong ties to Arizona, including family and friends, plus a full-time job as a software engineer, which he relies on to pay his mortgage, Knowles said. While Moses has a passport, the attorney said the man did not have the financial means to flee and was willing to "voluntarily surrender" the document pending trial. Also in the filing, Knowles said Moses was diagnosed with autism last year and was seeing a therapist biweekly for treatment. Instead of detention, Knowles suggested the judge place Moses in his sister's custody, require an ankle monitoring bracelet and confine him to the home, plus restrict travel to only religious services, medical appointments, legal appointments, court and employment, pending court approval. A grand jury indicted Moses on April 30 on five counts of "malicious damage to a vehicle … by means of fire." Each count, if proven at trial, carries a minimum of 5 years in prison and up to 20 years, U.S. attorneys said. Here's what else you need to know. Ian Moses, 35, was accused of malicious damage to a vehicle by means of fire in a complaint from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He was also previously arrested on suspicion of setting a Tesla Cybertruck on fire by the Mesa Police Department. The charges came after law enforcement said they responded to a 2 a.m. call on April 28 related to an emergency at the Tesla dealership on Hampton Avenue and Sossaman Road. When they arrived, officers found a Cybertruck "engulfed in flames" and the misspelled word "theif" spray painted on a building's exterior wall. Mesa police said Moses rode up on a bicycle and opened the door to a "suspicious van" parked near the dealership at Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road. Officers arrested Moses after matching him to video footage provided by the Tesla Security Center. Moses was found wearing a black backpack containing a black mask, a plastic gas can, a lighter and a spray paint can, according to law enforcement. The complaint said he also had a hand-drawn map depicting the dealership as a letter "T." Security footage from Tesla shows a man dressed similarly and using the same materials Moses was carrying. More on suspect: Tesla Cybertruck arson suspect had hand-drawn map of Mesa dealership, records say Moses, 35, is a Mesa resident and software developer for Cognizant, a Mesa-based software company. He attended the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, according to court filings. His attorney said Moses was diagnosed with autism last year and has been "treating with a therapist every other week." Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / Reach her at tseely@ or by phone at 480-476-6116. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ian Moses, suspect in Mesa Tesla fire, seeks house arrest before trial
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Fox News
Federal charges filed against Arizona Tesla arson suspect, AG Bondi promises 'no negotiating'
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday announced that federal charges have been filed against a "Tesla attacker" who is accused of lighting a brand-new Cybertruck on fire in Arizona. Ian Moses, 35, was initially charged with arson of a structure and property, according to previous reporting. In addition to allegedly lighting the vehicle on fire, Moses is accused of writing "THEIF" (sic) on the side of the dealership where the arson occurred. "If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," Bondi wrote in a statement on X. "No negotiating." The explosion happened just before 2 a.m. Monday near the Tesla Service Center in Mesa, Arizona. Responding officers found smoke and flames coming from a Cybertruck, according to the Mesa Police Department. Video footage from affiliate KSAZ-TV showed authorities surrounding the dealership and taping off the crispy vehicle. Moses was later identified through security photos and found near a suspicious van nearby. No injuries were reported. The attack comes after a string of violent incidents targeting Elon Musk's companies in apparent protest of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Following a Missouri Tesla dealership firebombing on April 18, allegedly committed by a college student on spring break, FBI Director Kash Patel described the actions as "dangerous" and "illegal." "We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes," Patel wrote in a statement.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tesla arson suspect arrested in Arizona after fiery assault on Cybertruck
Police in Arizona arrested a suspected arsonist at a Tesla dealership after he allegedly lit a newly delivered Cybertruck on fire. Mesa police responded just before 2:00 a.m. on Monday, April 28, to reports of an explosion at the Tesla Service Center in Mesa, Ariz. Witnesses reported smoke and flames near the building, which officers determined were coming from a newly delivered Tesla Cybertruck. Footage from Fox News affiliate, KSAZ-TV, captured federal and state law enforcement surrounding the Tesla dealership after the fire was put out. Tesla Vehicles, Charging Stations Targeted As Protesters Denounce Doge, Elon Musk The arson suspect, identified by local police as 35-year-old Ian Moses, allegedly wrote "THEIF" (sic) on the side of the dealership before setting the Cybertruck on fire. Read On The Fox News App The footage captured the charred electric truck as investigators taped off the scene. No injuries were reported. During their investigation, police said they noticed a suspicious van parked nearby and observed a man riding a bicycle approaching and opening the van's door. Officers immediately contacted the individual and identified the suspect. Investigators were able to match Moses to security photos captured by the Tesla Security Center during the incident. He was arrested and booked into jail for one count of arson of a structure and property. Nypd Searching For Scooter-riding Suspect Who Left Brick With Swastika On Tesla Cybertruck The Mesa Police Department announced that it is collaborating with federal authorities, and additional charges against Moses are pending as the investigation continues. This arrest comes amid a broader national movement targeting Musk's companies, driven by activists protesting the billionaire's involvement with the Trump administration. Fox News Digital has reported on recent Tesla vandalism incidents nationwide. A Minnesota man is accused of causing $20,000 in damage to Tesla vehicles. Surveillance footage in Florida captured two suspects ramming through a dealership gate and stealing a Tesla. And a Los Vegas man attacking a Tesla dealership is now facing federal charges. In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice would pursue federal charges against vandalizers. "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism," she said. "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes." Officials have urged anyone with additional information about the suspected arson incident to come forward as the investigation continues. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mesa Police Department and Tesla Inc. for article source: Tesla arson suspect arrested in Arizona after fiery assault on Cybertruck
Fox News
28-04-2025
- Fox News
Tesla arson suspect arrested in Arizona after fiery assault on Cybertruck
Police in Arizona arrested a suspected arsonist at a Tesla dealership after he allegedly lit a newly delivered Cybertruck on fire. Mesa police responded just before 2:00 a.m. on Monday, April 28, to reports of an explosion at the Tesla Service Center in Mesa, Ariz. Witnesses reported smoke and flames near the building, which officers determined were coming from a newly delivered Tesla Cybertruck. Footage from Fox News affiliate, KSAZ-TV, captured federal and state law enforcement surrounding the Tesla dealership after the fire was put out. The arson suspect, identified by local police as 35-year-old Ian Moses, allegedly wrote "THEIF" (sic) on the side of the dealership before setting the Cybertruck on fire. The footage captured the charred electric truck as investigators taped off the scene. No injuries were reported. During their investigation, police said they noticed a suspicious van parked nearby and observed a man riding a bicycle approaching and opening the van's door. Officers immediately contacted the individual and identified the suspect. Investigators were able to match Moses to security photos captured by the Tesla Security Center during the incident. He was arrested and booked into jail for one count of arson of a structure and property. The Mesa Police Department announced that it is collaborating with federal authorities, and additional charges against Moses are pending as the investigation continues. This arrest comes amid a broader national movement targeting Musk's companies, driven by activists protesting the billionaire's involvement with the Trump administration. Fox News Digital has reported on recent Tesla vandalism incidents nationwide. A Minnesota man is accused of causing $20,000 in damage to Tesla vehicles. Surveillance footage in Florida captured two suspects ramming through a dealership gate and stealing a Tesla. And a Los Vegas man attacking a Tesla dealership is now facing federal charges. In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice would pursue federal charges against vandalizers. "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism," she said. "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes." Officials have urged anyone with additional information about the suspected arson incident to come forward as the investigation continues. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mesa Police Department and Tesla Inc. for comment.
