Burglar and car thief apprehended after attempting to evade police

Mesa Police arrested 27-year-old Brian Keith Webb of Mesa Thursday afternoon on several felony charges after he attempted to evade police.

The incident began at around 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon when a Mesa Police detective noticed an unoccupied vehicle backed into a parking spot at a local pawn shop located at 1444 E. Main Street in Mesa. The detective recognized that the vehicle matched the description from a burglary investigation from earlier that morning. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was in fact stolen out of Mesa and the detective continued to watch the vehicle from a safe distance.

At one point the suspect, Brian Webb exited the pawn shop, entered the stolen vehicle and drove away. The detective, with the assistance of marked patrol units attempted to conduct a high risk traffic stop on the stolen vehicle in the area of Stapley and University. The suspect failed to yield for investigators and fled the area in the stolen vehicle. The suspect drove left of center and did not stop for several red lights in his attempt to evade police.

Unmarked police units followed the suspect from a safe distance. The suspect failed to stop for a red light at Higley and Broadway and was involved in a non-injury collision with another vehicle. The suspect continued to flee the area. Unmarked police personnel were able to contain the suspect vehicle in the area of 4700 E. Southern and Webb was taken into custody without further incident. After identifying Webb, investigators discovered that he had an outstanding arrest warrant for auto theft.

At the time of his arrest, Webb was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as a piece of property that was stolen during a vehicle burglary on April 9, 2008 in the area of 4100 E. McKellips in Mesa. Webb was also identified as the suspect of the vehicle burglary that occurred the morning of April 10, 2008 in the area of 2800 E. Brown Road in Mesa. Investigators were able to charge Webb with the theft of the vehicle that he was driving. That theft occurred on April 9, 2008 in the area of 10000 E. Roselle in Mesa.

Brian Keith Webb was booked for auto theft, felony flight from law enforcement, criminal damage, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of burglary. As of this writing, his bond and release status is unknown. The detective that originally located the vehicle at the pawn shop is commended for recognizing the vehicle and conducting further investigation that eventually lead to the capture of a suspect who not only had an outstanding arrest warrant for auto theft, but who had also committed two burglaries and auto theft just one day prior to his arrest. Everyone involved in the capture worked together to help make the streets of Mesa a safer place.