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2 arrested after shots fired at Mesa officers

Both suspects are facing multiple charges associated with shooting at officers, officials said.
Credit: 12 News

MESA, Ariz. — No officers were hurt and two people were arrested Wednesday afternoon after police said someone shot at them.

A vehicle drove by 80th Street and Baseline and opened fire at officers around 3:30 p.m, according to Mesa police.

Officers were in the area looking for a suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Dane Smith, who was wanted for a felony and two misdemeanor warrants, police said. 

Credit: Mesa Police Department
Dane Smith

Officers located Smith near a Jeep Cherokee before he got into the passenger seat and the vehicle fled. Officers turned on their lights and followed the suspect vehicle before Smith allegedly fired shots at their car, hitting it multiple times, police said. 

The suspect vehicle stopped in a church parking lot and both Smith, and the driver, 53-year-old Thomas Elliott, exited and ran from officers on foot, police said. 

Credit: Mesa Police Department
Thomas Elliott

Smith was allegedly armed with a handgun. 

When officers went to pursue Smith on foot, Elliott allegedly got back into the car and drove it to a neighborhood before abandoning it again, police said. 

Officers set up a perimeter within the neighborhood. Witnesses said that Smith had gone into one of the houses in the area and changed clothes before walking back out onto the street, police said. 

Officers took Smith into custody without further incident, police said. 

Thomas was also arrested after abandoning the suspect vehicle and getting into the passenger seat of another car without permission, police said. 

Officers recovered Smith's clothes and wallet from the house he changed in and found three other residences that were hit by gunfire, police said. 

Neither the suspects nor the officers were injured in the incident. Both Smith and Elliott are facing multiple charges. 

An investigation is ongoing. 

This story is developing, please check back shortly

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