The following information is being provided for clarification concerning an incident
that is currently under investigation.
On May 27, 2019, at approximately 11:17 a.m., a Phoenix Police Officer was
investigating an unrelated shoplifting at a store in the area of 1600 N. 36th Street,
when he was advised by store employees of another shoplifting. The officer was
directed to some individuals who were getting into a vehicle. He observed a
woman drop a “food foil,” when she saw him. As he walked towards the vehicle,
the car quickly backed up and started to leave parking lot. It stopped at
McDowell Road, and one of the women got out and the car drove away. The
woman was detained by the officer. It was later found the woman he detained
had three misdemeanor warrants for her arrest. She was later booked for the
warrants.
A description of the vehicle was broadcasted over the radio. The vehicle was
located a short distance from the store near 32nd Street and McDowell Road and
followed it was followed into the parking lot of an apartment complex in the area
of 3200 E. Roosevelt Street, where a man and woman in the car were taken into
custody and detained.
After being advised of her rights, the woman who had been detained, said her
aunt and child went into the store and when she saw her child walk out of the
store with a doll, she believed they had stolen it, because they didn’t have any
money. She heard the officer who approached the car in the parking lot tell the
driver to stop several times, but he didn’t.
After being advised of his rights, the man said he knew they had shoplifted from
the store and that he threw a pair of underwear out the window, because he
knew they were stolen. In addition, he stated he knew he was driving on a
suspended driver license.
Because the property was returned, the store employees said they did not desire
prosecution, so no one was charged with the shoplifting. The man however, was
cited and his vehicle was impounded, due to his driving on a suspended license.
In addition, no injuries to the man, woman or two children in the car when it was
stopped were reported to the Phoenix Police Department.
The Phoenix Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and
for this reason, this incident is currently being investigated by the Professional
Standards Bureau of the department.
A copy of Phoenix Police Incident Report #2019-00899642 is available through
the Phoenix Police Department Public Records Bureau, located at 1717 E. Grant
Street Suite #100. A request can be made by filing a request on line at
Phoenix.gov/phxatyourservice.

 Sgt. Tommy Thompson
Phoenix Police Department
Public Affairs Bureau