A 16 year old suspect was identified as the person in video surveillance and arrested in connection with a Mesa home invasion that occurred on July 2.
Mesa resident, Erika Grijalva was home alone when the teen broke with an ax. The teen was caught on a security camera, and later Ms. Grijalva shared the video with Facebook friends.
Ms. Grijalva was alone in her home near 8th Avenue and Dobson Road when she heard a man screaming and then breaking in with an ax.
Ms. Grijalva described the terrifying events: “Today I was woken up by this kid ringing our doorbell, I didn’t answer since I had worked the last two nights. He then came to the backyard and smashed in the sliding glass door yelling “Is anyone home?” I sprung up out of a dead sleep, grabbed my phone and locked myself in the bathroom. I heard him come into the bedroom, I told him I was calling 911. Then all I saw was an ax coming through the door… This will be a sight and feeling I will NEVER move on from. I honestly thought he was going to hurt me with the ax once he got through, I had no idea what he wanted. He then asked for money, I ended up giving him my laptop and tablet… He refused to take my credit cards, debit card and check book. As he walked out the back door he had just smashed in, he told me all he wanted was a few bucks and I never answered the doorbell… Then he said he would pay for the sliding glass door he broke! I am shaken… To my core….”
The teen has been referred to the Juvenile Court for one count of ARS 1304A4 – Kidnapping, ARS 13-1508A Burglary (1st degree), ARS 1904A1 Armed Robbery, ARS 13-1204A1 Aggravated Assault, and two counts of ARS 13-1506A1 Burglary (3rd Degree).