#policjanci

Mesa, Arizona — On August 3, 2023, Detectives from the Mesa Police Department and members of the U.S. Marshals Arizona Wanted Task Force, we're looking for 20-year-old Ny'Kendreon Pride, who was wanted in connection to three separate armed robberies. One that occurred on August 2nd and two more that occurred earlier that day. Pride was seen walking west across Mesa Drive from the apartment complex, at 1233 North Mesa Drive and continued south, on the sidewalk in front of another apartment complex, at 1230 North Mesa Drive. As Pride was walking, detectives contacted him from their vehicle. One detective who was riding in the rear passenger side, threw a flashbang near Pride, while another detective who was sitting in the front passenger side yelled for Pride to get down on the ground. The rear seat detective then fired two beanbag rounds, as the front seat detective fired rounds from his rifle.

The detective saw Pride reached for what he believed was a gun and that's when he fired his duty weapon. Pride collapsed as he attempted to run away with a handgun in his hand. Several commands were given for him to drop the weapon but he did not respond. Detectives used a taser, pepper ball rounds and beanbag rounds in an effort to get Pride to release the gun. He still did not respond. Detectives approached Pride, removed the handgun from his hand and took him into custody. The Mesa Fire Department responded and ultimately transported Pride to the Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. During the investigation, detectives identified the handgun Pride was carrying as a Glock and noted the trigger was depressed, but there was not a round in the chamber. The Glock had a Glock-Switch on the back, an extended magazine that contained 28 rounds. Detectives also found a large amount of cash in Pride's possession.

Youngstown, Ohio — On September 14, 2023, a male, later identified as 27-year-old Keishaun Sims entered the Youngstown Police Department lobby in emotional distress. The officer assigned to the auxiliary office, taking on station reports, initially attempted to engage with Sims, however the situation escalated. Sims became confrontational and a physical altercation took place involving both the officer and Sims. The encounter took a crucial turn when Sims assaulted the officer, and attempted to access the officer’s firearm. Other officers arrived and managed to handcuff Sims.

Sims was arrested and booked into Mahoning County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; two counts of assault on a police officer, a fourth-degree felony; and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and obstructing official business. He remains jailed after his bond was set at $100,000 during his arraignment in municipal court. The officer was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be examined but has since returned to duty. A statement from the police department said they are studying the encounter very closely and are mulling over whether to add more training to officers to learn how to de-escalate similar situations.

Newark, New Jersey — On May 3, 2023, at approximately 8:34 p.m. Newark Police Officers responded to a 911 call that individuals had been shot inside a residence on Johnson Avenue in Newark. The investigation revealed that responding officers encountered a man leaving the residence where the two individuals had been shot. The male was observed to be discarding an item inside a nearby dumpster. A semi-automatic handgun with a large capacity magazine was located in the dumpster later in the evening.

Multiple officers chased the male, later identified as 29-year-old Everett Rand, on foot while other officers gained entry to the home on Johnson Avenue. Rand fled around the corner to the sidewalk where two officers from the Newark Police Department, Officer Steven Ferreira and Officer Ryan Castro, discharged their firearms at Rand, fatally wounding him. A handgun, not belonging to law enforcement, was recovered near Rand. When police entered the residence, they found a 27-year-old man from Newark deceased from a gunshot wound and an 8-year-old boy who had been struck by gunfire. The child was transported to University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Los Angeles, California — On August 12, 2023, at around 8:17 p.m., Olympic Area uniformed patrol officers responded to a radio call of a “Man with a Gun” inside the convenience store, located at the 3400 block of West 6th Street. Upon arrival the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old, Taylor Dean Sanders, had left the location. At around 9:19 p.m., officers who were canvassing the area, observed Sanders on the south sidewalk of Wilshire Boulevard west of Kenmore Avenue, carrying what appeared to be a black assault rifle. As officers issued verbal commands to Sanders, he raised the rifle in the direction of the officers resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS). Officers broadcast a “Help Call,” as Sanders fled the location on foot.

Responding uniform officers from Rampart and Olympic Division observed Sanders walking south on Vermont Avenue from Wilshire Boulevard. Officers began to follow Sanders on foot from behind the cover of their trailing police vehicles. As Sanders reached mid-block between Vermont Avenue and 7th Street, officers deployed both Bean Bag Shotguns and 40mm Less-Lethal Launchers (LLL) towards Sanders. Sanders again raised his rifle in the direction of the officers, which resulted in a second OIS. Sanders continued to flee south on Vermont Avenue to a multi-unit shopping center and parking lot located at the northeast corner of 7th Street and Vermont Avenue. Officers again deployed 40mm LLL towards Sanders and as Sanders again pointed his rifle in the direction of officers resulting in a third OIS.

Sanders barricaded himself in an open-air stairwell of the parking lot and refused to submit to commands. Metropolitan Division Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) personnel responded to the location and after a lengthy standoff, Sanders surrendered without incident. Sanders was transported to California Hospital Medical Center for treatment of gunshot wounds. Sanders was admitted and listed in stable condition. Sanders was booked for Brandishing an Imitation Firearm at officers. Two replica firearms were located, a black air soft gun in the appearance of a rifle and a black and orange butane lighter in the appearance of a small pistol were recovered from the scene and booked as evidence. No officers or other citizens were injured during this incident. Force Investigation Division (FID) investigators responded to the scene and are investigating this incident.

RENO, Nev. A suspect is dead after he was shot and killed by police in Reno early Labor Day morning. Officers with the Reno Police Department responded to the 2600 block of Yori Ave. just after midnight on the report of a stabbing. When police arrived on scene, they found the armed suspect and ultimately ended up shooting him. Authorities did not release any details about what led up to the shooting. Authorities said the man was rushed to the hospital where he later died. No officers were hurt during the incident.

Carson, California — On August 7, 2023, at 1:53 a.m., Carson Sheriff Station received a 911 call from a store clerk reporting a man causing a disturbance at a gas station. The caller said the man, later identified as 34-year-old Arturo Cernas of Los Angeles, was screaming at the gas pumps and would not leave. Carson Station deputies were dispatched to the call. Cernas eventually complied and got on his knees. Deputies repeatedly told him not to reach for anything. For approximately a minute and a half, Cernas remained on his knees with his hands on his head.

He suddenly reached into his right pocket for a cell phone and reached into his backpack. During this time, deputies gave repeated commands for Cernas to stop moving. Cernas then grabbed the pistol from his left pant pocket. When Cernas reached into his pocket and grabbed the pistol, one deputy fired a less lethal 40mm foam projectile. Cernas continued drawing the pistol and, almost simultaneously, a deputy discharged his service weapon. Deputies rendered medical aid until the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department Paramedics. Paramedics pronounced Cernas deceased at the scene. After the incident, it was determined to be a CO2 BB pistol which resembled a firearm.

Roosevelt Island, New York — On August 5, 2023, At approximately 1130 PM, NYPD officers responded to multiple 911 calls at 540 Main St. regarding a 21-year-old man who was reportedly threatening a family member with a knife. The caller was a relative inside the location who also stated, the armed man was off his medication and under the influence of marijuana. Three officers entered one of the elevators and were preparing to ride it to the man’s floor, while two others were trying to prop open the lobby door with fliers in anticipation of backup.

All of a sudden, the suspect emerged from the second elevator not occupied by officers and moved quickly towards an officer, swinging the knife directly at this officer. That officer retreated outside of the lobby and then the suspect charged towards the elevator occupied by three officers. One officer fired at the man with a Taser, and two officers pulled out their service weapons and shot the man multiple times at close range. The video shows the man on his back just outside the elevator as his right arm went limp. After the shooting, the officers tried to save the man’s life. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. None of the officers or civilians in the area were injured during this incident.