MESA, AZ — A man is in serious condition after being shot by DPS troopers in southeast Mesa Saturday night.
Mesa Police Department officials say the incident started around 9:00 p.m. when officers with the Chandler Police Department attempted to stop the driver of a pickup truck who would not pull over.
Authorities say earlier in the evening, Gilbert police learned the driver was threatening suicide and left in his car.
Chandler police say officers followed the truck until it got on the Loop 202 traveling east at which point DPS troopers were able to locate the truck with the help of a Mesa Air Unit.
Officials say witnesses reported seeing the truck going at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic before it crashed onto a curb and into a traffic light before flipping several times near Pecos and Ellsworth roads.
Following the collision, DPS units arrived and a white male was seen climbing out of the vehicle through the drivers' side window and was reportedly yelling at officers that he was going to kill them.
Officials say the suspect was seen reaching for something around his abdominal area and pulled out, what was described by DPS officers as a dark and shiny object about eight inches long.
Troopers believed the object to be a weapon and they fired at the suspect at least twice.
When troopers approached the vehicle they found a black and silver fishing pole, about eight to 12 inches long on the ground near the suspect who had been shot, Mesa police say.
The suspect taken to a hospital, and is now in critical but stable condition.
No troopers were hurt.
Mesa police is investigating and will provide more information once they're investigation is completed.
We are on scene at Ellsworth and Pecos for an Officer Involved Shooting involving DPS. No officers injured. Mesa PD is assisting with the scene but was not involved in the incident. Media staging on east side of Pecos at Ellsworth. pic.twitter.com/BvzzMLz7xD
— Mesa Police Dept. (@MesaPD) June 7, 2020
