A 27-year-old man, Matthew Bia, has been arrested for aggravated assault on a police officer and commercial burglary after breaking into a business near 51st Avenue and Baseline just before midnight on January 7.
Officers were called to the area after a witness saw Bia break into a business. When an officer arrived, he attempted to communicate with Bia, and have him come out. Bia yelled at the officer and refused to come out. The officer continued to try to negotiate with him, but was unsuccessful.
Bia then reached to his waistband, and pulled his hand out quickly extending it toward the officer. The officer, believing Bia was pointing a gun, fired one round. Bia was not struck. When additional officers arrived he was taken into custody. Bia had minor cuts to his hands from the glass from his initial break in to the store, but did not sustain any other injuries. There were no injuries to the officer or other community members.
The officer’s body worn camera was activated, and store surveillance footage captured the incident.
Bia was booked into the Maricopa County Jail.