Mesa and Scottsdale police worked together to arrest a man suspected of armed robbery.
The Mesa Police Department had been conducting surveillance on Ricardo Ramirez, 19, and received a tip he might be out to commit armed robbery, police reports show.
Early Saturday morning, Mesa alerted Scottsdale police of a robbery in progress at the Albertson’s store at 11475 E. Via Linda. Ramirez had reportedly entered the store with a cloth on his face and a gun in his hand.
While holding five employees at gunpoint, the suspect emptied two cash registers then took off in a silver Nissan. Mesa detectives pursued the suspect in unmarked cars, while a Mesa helicopter and Scottsdale police officers followed, police reports show.
Police kept a safe distance as Ramirez entered Loop 101 and drove to McDonald Drive. Once at the exit, he left the freeway and arrived at the apartment complex at 8310 E. McDonald. It was then he noticed the helicopter overhead and fired his gun, missing every time, police report.
Mesa police detectives confronted Ramirez at gunpoint, and he dropped his gun but resisted their attempts to arrest him. Police had to use a Taser to take him into custody, according to the report.
Ramirez was arrested and transported to a Scottsdale jail in connection with charges of armed robbery and other offenses.
