Investigators Learn More About Police Shooting
February 22, 2008
On
February 21, 2008 at 5:21 pm, the Mesa Police Department
responded to the report of a man with a gun at the Ham Bone
restaurant located at 903 E. Main Street. According to witnesses
the male suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Joseph
Levesque (seen in photo) of Mesa, was arguing with another customer
about who spent more time in prison. Levesque exited the
restaurant and then returned a short time later. He engaged
another customer in a verbal argument and threatened the
customer with a gun. At this point the police were contacted and
Levesque fled the scene in a red truck prior to police arrival.
Witnesses provided the 911 operator with a description of the
truck, as well as information that Levesque was armed with a
handgun. The information was broadcast to responding police
units.
The Mesa Police Air Unit located the suspect vehicle traveling
east on Broadway from Stapley. The suspect was seen driving
erratically through traffic, driving left of center and
speeding. Unmarked police units responded to the area as the Air
Unit updated dispatch of the suspect vehicle location and
direction of travel. Investigators learned that during this time
Levesque allegedly called his wife on his cell phone and told
her that he saw the police helicopter following him. He also
told her that he had passed a police car and that it was making
a U-turn.
At the 4200 block of east Broadway, Levesque turned into a gated
community. The gate to the community was closed, not allowing
the suspect vehicle to enter. Levesque made a U-turn as unmarked
police vehicles pulled into the driveway. The detectives exited
their vehicles dressed in plain clothes and wearing police "bust
vests" that displayed identifying police markers. After making
the U-turn in the driveway the suspect vehicle was facing the
detectives. Information that Levesque was armed with a handgun
had already been broadcast and the detectives had their weapons
drawn and pointed towards Levesque who was still inside of his
vehicle. Levesque drove towards one of the detectives who was
standing on the driver's side of his vehicle. The detective
retreated to the passenger side of his vehicle and Levesque
stopped his truck. According to witnesses, Levesque then backed
his truck up and then drove towards the passenger side of the
vehicle that the detective had just retreated to. Levesque's
actions were not consistent with someone who was trying to leave
the scene; instead it appeared that he was driving towards the
detective on two different occasions. The detectives fired their
duty weapons at Levesque in defense of life. Levesque was struck
and the vehicle slowed to a stop after striking a marked police
vehicle head-on that had just arrived on scene. Levesque was
transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable
condition. Criminal charges are pending.
According to the Department of Corrections website Levesque was
released from the Arizona Department of Corrections in 2006
after serving several years for Aggravated DUI and Misconduct
involving weapons. Levesque's Department of Corrections record
dates back to 1982. None of the detectives or officers involved
in this incident were hurt. The detectives were placed on paid
administrative leave pending the investigation.