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| 34-year-old Natalie Rustin / Mesa Police Department |
Published September 9th, 2025
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MESA, AZ — A routine Sunday morning drive turned chaotic at a busy Mesa intersection when police say a woman caused a three-car crash, ran away from the scene, and was later caught with a stash of illegal drugs hidden nearby.
Mesa Police say it all happened just after 9:00 a.m. on September 7, 2025, at S. Alma School Road and W. Baseline Road. According to investigators, 34-year-old Natalie Rustin was driving a gray car when she failed to stop in time, slammed into a vehicle that was stopped at the light, and pushed it into a third car.
Two people were taken to the hospital with back and neck injuries, but thankfully, police say everyone is expected to recover.
She Tried to Run – but Came Back
Witnesses told officers that Rustin initially ran from the crash scene. She later returned, admitting she was the driver and saying she left because her license was suspended.
When officers made contact, they say Rustin showed clear signs of impairment. After field sobriety tests confirmed their suspicions, Rustin was arrested for aggravated DUI.
Mesa Police didn’t stop there. During their investigation, they found a bag stashed behind a nearby business containing more than half a pound of illegal drugs along with paraphernalia.
Surveillance video, witnesses, and evidence linked the stash to Rustin. Investigators say the amount and packaging were consistent with selling, not personal use.
Rustin now faces a long list of charges, including aggravated DUI, possession of dangerous and narcotic drugs for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police say this case is an example of how their officers go beyond the initial call for service — turning a crash investigation into a major drug bust that took dangerous substances off Mesa streets.
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