Phoenix, Arizona – In a tense standoff at a Red Roof Inn, Phoenix police officers apprehended an armed suspect who had barricaded himself inside a laundry dryer. The incident, which unfolded on July 15th, prompted a swift response from law enforcement and highlighted the dangers officers face in the line of duty.
The ordeal began when a security guard stationed near the I-117 freeway reported an aggravated assault to 911 dispatchers. The guard alleged that a man, previously banned from the property, had brandished a firearm, pointing it directly at him. Following the confrontation, the suspect fled to a nearby parking lot, where he encountered an acquaintance driving a U-Haul truck. Witnesses reported that the suspect then proceeded to physically assault the driver, striking him multiple times before seeking refuge inside the hotel.
Upon arriving at the scene, Phoenix police officers were met with a volatile situation. Body camera footage released by the department captured the tense moments as officers attempted to apprehend the suspect, who was reportedly armed and dangerous. The footage reveals officers deploying less-lethal foam batons in an attempt to subdue the suspect. However, these efforts proved ineffective, prompting an officer to discharge his firearm.
Security camera footage shows the suspect, armed with a handgun, inside the hotel.
Surveillance video from the hotel’s security system provided a chilling glimpse into the suspect’s actions leading up to the shooting. The footage shows the suspect navigating a stairwell, clutching a handgun in his right hand while carrying a cell phone and backpack in his left. As he opens a door leading into a hallway, the suspect appears to point the weapon at the officers stationed there, prompting the officer’s use of deadly force.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire. However, the incident escalated as the suspect, still armed, fled to the hotel’s laundry room, desperately seeking an escape route. In a final act of desperation, the suspect barricaded himself inside a dryer, refusing to comply with officers’ commands.
Body camera footage captures the moment officers apprehended the suspect hiding inside the dryer.
Additional body camera footage documented the final moments of the standoff, revealing officers’ attempts to negotiate with the suspect while ensuring the safety of hotel staff and guests. As the suspect remained defiant, officers deployed stun bags, aiming to incapacitate him and secure his arrest. The suspect eventually surrendered to law enforcement, emerging from the dryer and complying with officers’ instructions.
Following his apprehension, the suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the deployment of less-lethal munitions. He was later released from medical care and booked into the Maricopa County Jail, facing a slew of charges stemming from the incident.
The officer-involved shooting is currently under investigation by both the Phoenix Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. This dual investigation is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting, ensuring transparency and accountability in law enforcement actions. The officer who discharged his weapon, a six-year veteran of the force, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
