On Friday, February 13th, 2015 at approximately 8:30 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communication Center received a call from a female in the 200 block of South McNab Parkway, San Manuel. The caller reported that a suspicious person had confronted her husband in the front driveway of their home.
The subject identified as Daniel Mejia, age 37 of San Manuel, has been described by family members as always in possession two knives and suffering from severe mental health issues.
Mejia had “squared off show-down style” with the deputy according to the Sheriff’s department, and he was brandishing a large knife. The subject then began to swing the knife around as if he was “practicing stabbing and jabbing.”
The subject next walked east towards a light pole and appeared to be in a “confrontation” with the wooden light pole. The subject began to “stab, shave and slit” the light pole. The subject then stood on one foot as if “teetering on the edge of cliff.” A short time later he put his foot down and continued walking east.
After a uniformed deputy was dispatched to the call in a fully marked patrol vehicle, he located the subject within minutes near the Salt & Pepper Market.
The deputy observed the subject was holding a knife in hand. The deputy made repeated verbal commands for him to drop and knife. Instead the subject advanced towards the deputy and told the deputy he was going to harm him. The deputy pointed his department issued handgun at the subject and told him to stay back yet the subject with the knife still in his hand refused and continued coming at the deputy. The deputy feared for his safety and shot the subject.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “Law enforcement across the country are frequently put into crisis situations involving people affected by mental disorders. Dealing with individuals who suffer from mental illness is often difficult as it carries the potential for violence. In this case, the deputy feared for his life as Mejia came towards him with a knife and he refused to obey his commands. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Mejia family who lost their son and also to our deputy who was forced into this situation.”