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Mesa man barricades self inside apartment during warrant arrest
Posted
A barricade situation in Mesa ended in the arrest of a man who allegedly assaulted an officer.
The Mesa Police Department on May 22 was alerted to an active felony warrant for Matthew Anderson, 36, for failure to appear for two counts of aggravated assault on police, resisting arrest, escape and disorderly conduct.
When officers responded Saturday to Mr. Anderson’s apartment near Alma School Road and University Drive, they made announcements for him to exit.
However, he refused and barricaded himself inside, records show. Several police vehicles then surrounded the apartment.
During the incident, a male walked towards the apartment. He told police Mr. Anderson texted him and told him to get inside the unit, where he lived. According to records, the male had previous runs-in with Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson, when contacted by phone during the barricade, told police that a report made back in December was not true.
He continued refusing to exit, stating he would shower before leaving the apartment.
Police decided to throw in a non-lethal gas into the unit to force Mr. Anderson out. However, he did not, causing officers to enter.
They would find a human- sized hole in a drywall. Mr. Anderson was seen hiding in the attic area, records show, wearing a gas mask and blanket.
Mr. Anderson pulled himself towards a second hole where officers were waiting. He then used his feet to push out of the area, causing him to land on an officer’s head and shoulders, records show.
The officer fell from a ladder that he was standing on. Mr. Anderson reportedly kicked his legs around and pulled himself from officers.
Police said the officer was not injured but stated his neck and shoulders were sore.
Police arrested Mr. Anderson for the warrant charges along with resisting arrest and aggravated assault on an officer.
Mr. Anderson at his initial appearance told a judge that he did not show up to court in time for his December arrest was due to having to handle his drunk friend and not being able to contact his lawyer.
The judge said his purpose was not to decide what happened before. Back then, the court decided it was appropriate to issue a warrant for Mr. Anderson’s arrest.
