On June 5, 2017, at about 5:49 p.m., Trooper Braden McBride saw a Cadillac sedan traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed on U.S. Highway 70 near milepost 334; Safford-Thatcher area. Trooper McBride caught up to the vehicle and stopped it at milepost 335. The driver of the vehicle, Raheem Jamal Lemieux, 20, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, showed signs of impairment and was asked to exit the vehicle. Two additional subjects, later identified as Richard Lemieux, 21, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Tyrus Talbot, 21, also from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were also asked to exit the vehicle.
Sergeant Stewart Shupe arrived at the scene to assist Trooper McBride. As the trooper was placing Raheem into custody for driving under the influence, Richard suddenly fled the scene on foot. Sgt. Shupe gave chase while ordering Richard to stop. The foot pursuit continued across railroad tracks in the area and into a residential neighborhood where Richard ran through at least one backyard before coming back onto the street. During the chase Lauren Miller, Scott Overall, and another local resident, stepped in to help Sgt. Shupe in apprehending the suspect. Richard ran behind a home in the 1000 block of north Powerhouse Road with both Sgt. Shupe and the citizens giving chase. As Sgt. Shupe turned a corner, he observed that Lauren Miller had Richard on the ground. Sgt. Shupe handcuffed Richard, placing him into custody without further incident.
The investigation revealed the vehicle was stolen from Apache Junction and was connected to a robbery. Numerous stolen items were found in the vehicle.