Surprise police interested in El Mirage suspect

A man whom El Mirage authorities arrested in connection with at least two home burglaries last week also is an investigative lead for Surprise police, both agencies reported this week.

Police identified the man as Trevone Taylor, 18, who reportedly pointed a gun at two El Mirage officers on Aug. 21 after he was detained for questioning.

Taylor was arrested and booked into jail on one count of aggravated assault on a police officer and two counts of burglary.

El Mirage and Surprise police consider the Phoenix resident a possible lead in other burglaries that police said appear to be related.

El Mirage Assistant Police Chief Bill Louis on Monday said the suspect might be linked to four other home burglaries in El Mirage in which the thief kicked in the door and wiped off traces of a footprint.

Louis said crime analysts from El Mirage and Surprise joined forces early this week to review crime reports and explore whether Taylor may be involved in crimes in both cities.

Surprise police spokesman Sgt. Mark Ortega on Tuesday called Taylor an investigative lead who has been interviewed in connection with Surprise incidents. Details were unavailable.

Taylor has been held on $100,000 bond since his arrest, Louis said.

Police accuse him of pointing a gun at El Mirage police officers as he was questioned about a home break-in. As officers began to pat down the suspect, he reportedly ran from them and pulled a handgun from his waistband.

Louis said another officer, Sgt. Bill Whalen, arrived in the area, spotted the suspect and confronted him at the corner of 129th Avenue and Paradise Drive. Commands to drop the gun were ignored, police said.

Reports state that the suspect pointed the gun at the officer, and the officer fired one round at the suspect but missed. The suspect fled on foot. Officers called on Surprise police for backup and set up a perimeter.

Within several minutes, Taylor was apprehended. Officers located a weapon near the scene of the shooting.

Investigators later determined that the officer's single bullet hit a garage door on the northeastern corner of 129th Avenue and Paradise Drive, Louis said.

Police reported that the suspect may have committed at least one other burglary in the same area earlier that day. During his interview with detectives, Taylor made statements referencing both burglaries.

Whalen, a 25-year police veteran, was placed on administrative leave pending a review of the matter, which is standard practice in police shootings.