MESA, AZ — A suspect has been captured after a shooting involving Mesa police officers Sunday night.
It happened at an apartment complex near 8th Avenue and Alma School Road.
Authorities say two people were sleeping in a car for more than six hours, so police were called for a welfare check. Officers say when they woke up the suspects, the driver put the car in reverse, hit one patrol car, and then drove over the curb into the green belt.
Officials said during the initial incident one of the officers got out of his patrol car and the driver tried to hit him with his vehicle and the officer discharged his firearm.
No officers were hurt and the suspect ended up getting away.
Early Monday morning, around 3 a.m., officials said police found the driver 23-year-old Diego Varela and passenger 26-year-old Melissa Hidalgo, and took them into custody.
Varela was taken to a hospital for personal medical reasons and booked into jail on two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement, three counts of endangerment, and one count of leaving the scene of a vehicle collision, police said.
Hidalgo was also arrested and booked into Mesa City Jail for two outstanding warrants.
UPDATE from @MesaPD confirming most of this resident's story.
— Adam Waltz (@Adam_Waltz) September 6, 2021
NEW INFO: 3 officers here, one officer fired shots while out of his car and suspect was driving in their direction. @abc15 https://t.co/9HgjxzJs1A
