By Tom Blodgett
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Gilbert police are up to 40 arrests this year in cases connected to group teen-on-teen violence and have 12 active cases they are investigating, but Chief Michael Soelberg continued his call for the public’s help. 

In his weekly news conference on the teen violence issue, Soelberg presented video and images from three new cases under investigation, plus one ongoing one, seeking help from the public in identifying either victims or suspects. 

“I want to reiterate that what the county attorney has said and I have said before, is that we need to do thorough investigations,” Soelberg said. “We need to present our cases to the county attorney so that they can make the decision to proceed with those with charges.” 

In the first case, No. 24-22676, attackers are seen throwing punches into a car. Soelberg said he believes it is from the In-and-Out Burger at Market Place but police are not sure. The attackers have been identified, but police are hoping the public can help identify the two people in the car. 

In case 24-22676, police are looking for help identifying victims in a car.

Courtesy Gilbert Police Department

The second case, No. 24-1414, is an assault on a sidewalk that police believe to be near Guadalupe Road and Freestone Parkway. Police need help identifying the victim, Soelberg said, noting he had Adidas slip-on shoes and a black backpack with red straps or markings. 

In case 24-1414, police need help identifying the victim on the sidewalk.

Courtesy Gilbert Police Department

The final new case, No. 23-4471, is from near the parking garage at 72 W. Vaughn Ave., Gilbert, and is from between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023. The victims have been identified in this case, but police are looking for help on the assailants. 

In case 23-4471, police need help identifying the assailants, who are highlighted in the left-hand photo.

Courtesy Gilbert Police Department

Police also are looking for additional help on the parking garage assault from Dec. 3, 2022, case No. 24-1392, Three arrests already have been made as a result of the public’s help, Soelberg said. Soelberg said police are hoping to identify one of the victims who has been pushed to the ground. His assailant has been identified. 

In case 24-1392, police are looking to identify the victim in a parking garage assault.

Courtesy Gilbert Police Department

Additional photos and videos are available for the public to view on the town’s teen violence investigation webpage. 

Police are asking that any information that can assist them with identifications in the cases be reported directly to the Gilbert Police Department by calling 480-503-6500 and referencing the case number. Tips on this case can also be submitted anonymously through GPD’s online tip site glbrt.is/GPDSubmitATip  with reference to the case number. 

“This is part of that process of making sure that we have all of the information, part of which is identifying individuals involved, and that is what our focus is,” Soelberg said. 

We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him @sp_blodgett on X. 

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).