A suspect fired a handgun and hit a police car July 21 near 80th Street and Baseline, police said.
Mesa police officers were in the area for Operation Summer Project 2021 and were looking for 26-year-old Dane Smith, who was wanted for theft of means of transportation as well as two outstanding warrants, according to a release.
“After officers found Dane, they initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle Dane was in did not stop and officers watched as Dane fired rounds from a handgun at officers through the back window of the vehicle,” police said. “Multiple bullets hit the officer’s vehicle in addition to three occupied houses. Eventually, the vehicle stopped. Dane and the driver, 53-year-old Thomas Elliot, took off running. Both men were located and taken into custody. Neither suspect was injured, and officers never fired their weapons.”
