Phoenix, AZ - Detective's Car Stolen At Car Wash - Suspect
Jumped Into Car And Shot At Detective - Suspect Found Dead - Self Inflicted Shot
March 26,
2011
myfoxphoenix.com
Police have identified a man they say stole a Phoenix detective's car and then shot himself when he was caught.
The man has been identified as 33-year-old Joseph Mullan.
An off-duty vehicle crimes detective had his car stolen at about 4:30 p.m. Friday at a car wash.
Mullan got into the driver's seat of the officer's vehicle after car wash attendants had finished washing it. The detective then ran to the car and attempted to pull Mullan out.
Police said Mullan pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot at the detective, who was not hit.
The detective let go of Mullan, who drove away from the car wash.
At about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Phoenix police officers found the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it in the area of 8th Street and Colter, but the driver took off.
After an air search, the car was found crashed and abandoned near an apartment complex on East Camelback.
Officers surrounded the complex and then received a 911 call from a resident inside who said an unknown man was in his apartment. The caller fled to safety.
As officers surrounded the caller’s apartment, they said they heard a single gunshot from inside.
The police's special assignments unit used a robot to search the apartment, and officers said Mullan was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police have identified a man they say stole a Phoenix detective's car and then shot himself when he was caught.
The man has been identified as 33-year-old Joseph Mullan.
An off-duty vehicle crimes detective had his car stolen at about 4:30 p.m. Friday at a car wash.
Mullan got into the driver's seat of the officer's vehicle after car wash attendants had finished washing it. The detective then ran to the car and attempted to pull Mullan out.
Police said Mullan pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot at the detective, who was not hit.
The detective let go of Mullan, who drove away from the car wash.
At about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Phoenix police officers found the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it in the area of 8th Street and Colter, but the driver took off.
After an air search, the car was found crashed and abandoned near an apartment complex on East Camelback.
Officers surrounded the complex and then received a 911 call from a resident inside who said an unknown man was in his apartment. The caller fled to safety.
As officers surrounded the caller’s apartment, they said they heard a single gunshot from inside.
The police's special assignments unit used a robot to search the apartment, and officers said Mullan was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.