Citizen Staff Writer
LAW AND ORDER REPORT
DAVID L. TEIBEL
dteibel@tucsoncitizen.com
One of four men suspected in a Feb. 5 home invasion-turned-gunfight caught on videotape has been arrested, a sheriff’s detective sergeant said Thursday.
David Gutierrez, 22 of the 4500 block of South Fifth Avenue was arrested Wednesday night, Detective Sgt. Terry Parish II said.
Gutierrez was booked into the Pima County Jail on suspicion of attempted armed robbery, attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm, Parish said. Gutierrez was ordered held in lieu of $75,000 bail at an initial court appearance, a jail records clerk said.
Four men attempted the home invasion in the 3000 block of West Vande Loo Street about noon Feb. 5, sheriff’s spokeswoman Deputy Dawn Barkman said earlier.
The men were armed with “handguns and an assault rifle,” she said.
The homeowner, who had a handgun “easily accessible” near the front door, fired at the suspects, hitting one in the arm, Barkman said.
The men fled in a light blue Chrysler 300, she said.
“Investigative leads” in the case told authorities one of the men was struck by gunfire, taken to a hospital and treated, Barkman said.
Deputies identified the wounded man as Jesus Mendivil, 23, whom Parish believes is in Mexico.
The other two suspects, thought to be 17 to 25 years old, are being sought.
The homeowner’s surveillance camera captured the men’s images during the incident.
Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
Parish would not say where Gutierrez was captured or what led detectives to him, other than he was stopped while driving his car. Detectives took Gutierrez to sheriff’s headquarters on East Benson Highway near South Kino Parkway, where he was questioned. Parish would not say what statements, if any, Gutierrez made.
Parish thinks the would-be robbers were after cash, but he did not know why they expected to find money in the home.
Suspect in home invasion attempt arrested