Mesa, Tempe and Chandler law enforcement coordinate East Valley violence and property-crime investigations after a weekend of shootings, break-ins and arrests

Mesa, Tempe and Chandler law enforcement agencies coordinated investigations following two officer-involved shootings and multiple property crimes over the weekend of July 17, 2026, in the East Valley. According to officials, the incidents prompted joint efforts through the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, a multi-agency unit formed to handle serious-force investigations across the region.

The two officer-involved shootings occurred about three hours apart on July 17, 2026. The first incident took place in north Tempe near Scottsdale and McKellips roads, where Chandler Police detectives attempted to arrest a man wanted in an aggravated assault case. The second shooting occurred around 11 p.m. near the intersection of Dobson and Broadway roads in Mesa. Mesa Police responded to reports of shots fired at an apartment complex and located a man connected to a homicide investigation. Mesa Police spokesperson Detective Robert Katz said the suspect fired multiple rounds at officers before being taken into custody. No officers were injured, and the suspect was later booked on charges including aggravated assault and weapons misconduct.

According to Chandler Police spokesperson Sonu Wasu, the suspect was shot and killed after allegedly producing a firearm while fleeing the scene.

Both shootings are under investigation by the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team (EVCIRT), a multi-agency unit formed in June 2024 by eight municipal departments, including Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler. The team was established to ensure impartial investigations of serious-force incidents by assigning investigations to agencies other than those involved. In line with this protocol, Mesa officers’ involvement in the July 17 shooting led to an EVCIRT-led investigation rather than an internal Mesa Police inquiry. Similarly, Chandler detectives’ use of force in the Tempe shooting is being examined by the regional unit.

The weekend’s violence followed earlier incidents highlighting EVCIRT’s role in coordinated investigations. On Aug. 31, 2026, Mesa officers fatally shot an armed man near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road after neighbors reported threats involving a firearm. Mesa detective Laura Cervantes confirmed the shooting and said Gilbert Police assumed the investigation under EVCIRT guidelines, which prevent agencies from investigating their own officers’ use of force. The following day, Sept. 1, Mesa officers were involved in a critical incident in Chandler near McQueen and Frye roads. Social media posts and local reports described an active scene shortly before 8 p.m., with Mesa Police urging the public to avoid the area. Chandler Police confirmed their assistance in the investigation. The suspect, identified by Chandler Police as 47-year-old Dwayne Varela, was linked to a domestic violence call originating in Mesa. He was reportedly armed with a rifle and was shot by Mesa officers before being transported to a hospital in critical condition.

Earlier in 2026, on Feb. 6, a suspect engaged in a shootout with Chandler officers during a traffic stop and sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and a K-9 bite. Chandler Police reported no officers were injured and said the Mesa Police Department took over the investigation as part of EVCIRT’s cross-agency protocols. This exemplifies the established practice of East Valley departments coordinating investigations to maintain transparency and impartiality.

In addition to the shootings, property crimes also prompted interagency cooperation. On Aug. 21, 2026, Tempe Police reported a break-in at Grace Community Church near Rural Road and Southern Avenue. Surveillance footage showed a man using a crowbar or tire iron to force entry into the church’s student center, causing thousands of dollars in damage and stealing a PlayStation 5 from a youth group area. On Sept. 1, 2026, police arrested 23-year-old Erick Encinas at his Mesa apartment in connection with the burglary. Tempe Police credited surveillance footage for linking Encinas to the crime and noted the cross-city nature of the investigation, with Tempe detectives coordinating the arrest in Mesa while maintaining investigative control of the offense. Encinas was booked on burglary and aggravated criminal damage charges.

Chandler Police maintain a public open-data portal that provides near-real-time arrest booking information, reflecting a regional commitment to transparency. Records from the July 17 Mesa shooting show the suspect was booked on 17 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of prohibited possessor. Following the Feb. 6 Chandler incident, officials confirmed the suspect was to be booked into jail after medical treatment. Similarly, Tempe Police reported Encinas’s booking after his arrest in Mesa.

EVCIRT’s formation in June 2024 was intended to standardize investigations of serious-force incidents across East Valley jurisdictions, ensuring no department investigates its own officers and promoting consistent documentation and public reporting. The recent spate of shootings and property crimes underscores the ongoing role of this multi-agency team in managing complex investigations involving multiple cities and law enforcement agencies.