Police arrested a man and a 17-year-old boy for breaking into a pickup truck in the parking lot of an east Mesa restaurant, and for pulling a gun on the owner of the business late Monday.
Officers say the pair admitted to breaking into the pickup truck just moments before the 17-year-old brandished the weapon.
Alex Cruze, 18, and the boy, who is not being named by the Tribune since he is a minor, both were arrested on vehicle burglary-related charges and the 17-year-old also is facing aggravated assault
Police responded to the vehicle burglary about 10:20 p.m. at Cazo De Oro Mexican Restaurant, 1002 E. Main St. after the restaurant’s owner walked outside and saw the pair breaking into his truck, he told police. The pair fled on foot and the restaurant owner chased them in his truck. But after the boy pulled a gun on him and threatened him with it, he returned to his business and called police, according to Mesa police.
Authorities were able to locate and apprehend the two suspects and recovered a handgun in an alley.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
DrJCA1 posted at 3:24 pm on Tue, May 15, 2012.
If you're old enough to pull a gun on someone, you are not a "minor" an longer. These "kids" need to be treated like an adult when they do garbage like this.
k33j88 posted at 7:53 am on Wed, May 16, 2012.
Hmmm---Now why didn't the restaurant owner just call the police at the scene of the crime? Not very level-headed, is he? Hot sauce on the brain.