MESA, AZ — A Mesa police K9 is being credited for capturing a slashing suspect Tuesday night.
Police say around 6 p.m., officers were called to The Olive Press, a safe housing facility near Mesa Drive and Broadway Road, to check out a stabbing call.
When officers arrived, they found two men with slash marks to their face and a third man who had a laceration to his nose. All three victims were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The facility's house manager identified the slashing suspect to police as 56-year-old Theodor (Ted) Bush.
Mesa police set a perimeter around the facility and evacuated the residents inside. Police say all three victims identified Bush as the person who cut them.
The victims told police Bush was angry and throwing items around the kitchen. The victims said Bush grabbed a butcher style knife and cut the first two victims in the face. Police say both victims had no relationship with Bush and did not know why he would do this. Police say Bush encountered the third victim out front and allegedly pushed him down, punched him, and then stabbed his face.
A fourth female victim was found at the scene with a cut in her jacket. This victim told officers that Bush stabbed the knife toward her and demanded her property.
When police entered the facility, Bush was seen walking in and out of a room but would not comply with officer's request to surrender.
Police say Bush was shot with a less lethal bean bag shotgun, but still did not give in. A Mesa police officer and K9 Officer, Rico II, were deployed and were able to take Bush into custody.
Officials say Bush suffered injuries from the dog bite as well as the less lethal beanbag round. He was transported to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Police say Bush is facing four counts of aggravated assault and one count of armed robbery.
