Late Night Crime Spree Ends In Violent Gun Battle With
Police
February 11, 2008
On February 10, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. a suspect later identified as
27-year-old Jaime Martinez of Mesa was shot and killed by police
after initiating a gun battle with Mesa and Tempe officers.
The incident began in Tempe shortly after 8:30 p.m. when
Martinez and a female accomplice later identified as 34-year-old
Sawajee M. Chiquette of Mesa allegedly stole a car at gunpoint.
Chiquette and Martinez are then believed to have driven the
stolen vehicle into Mesa where they robbed two male juveniles
ages 15 and 16 at gunpoint in the area of 800 S. Pasadena.
During that incident Chiquette was believed to be the driver of
the stolen vehicle. She pulled up next to the victims and
Martinez exited the vehicle. Martinez allegedly pointed a gun
directly at head of one of the victim’s and told him to give him
what he had. Chiquette told the victim to give Martinez the
property or Martinez would kill him. The victim turned over some
personal property to Martinez. Martinez then pulled the trigger,
however the gun did not fire. Martinez then pointed the gun at
the other victim’s head and pulled the trigger. Once again the
gun did not fire. Martinez and Chiquette then fled the scene in
the stolen vehicle. Martinez fired a shot in the air while
Chiquette drove the stolen vehicle from the scene.
Mesa and Tempe officers were in the area searching for the
suspect vehicle. They were able to locate the vehicle in the
area of Standage and Vine in Mesa. Tempe and Mesa officers
initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Chiquette refused
to stop. As the vehicle traveled through the residential
neighborhood Martinez leaned out of the passenger side of the
vehicle and fired at least two shots towards the marked police
vehicles.
The suspect vehicle slowed down in the area of 7th Drive and
Longmore. Martinez and Chiquette immediately exited the vehicle.
Martinez fired several shots at Mesa and Tempe police officers.
Left with no other choice, Officers from both departments
returned fire and struck Martinez who was later pronounced dead
at the scene.
Chiquette was taken into police custody without further
incident. Chiquette was positively identified as the
suspect/driver in the Mesa robbery on Pasadena. She was booked
on suspicion of Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful
Flight from Law Enforcement. Her release status is unknown at
this time.
No Mesa Police Officers were injured, however a Tempe Police
Officer did receive injuries to one of his ankles. As of late
last night he was receiving treatment at a local hospital. The
injury was caused when another police officer arriving on scene
accidentally ran over the Tempe Officers foot. No other injuries
were reported, however investigators discovered that at least
one residence in the neighborhood was struck by gunfire. No one
in that residence was injured.
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| Sawajee Chiquette |
Jaime Martinez |