Suspect Throws Rocks at Officers During Mesa SWAT Standoff, Taken Into Custody

By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent

iSkyNews.com (ISC News) – Published January 17th, 2026

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SWAT Standoff Ends With Barricaded Suspect in Custody After Mesa Domestic Violence Incident

MESA, AZ — A 25-year-old man is in custody following a domestic violence incident that escalated into an overnight barricade and SWAT response, according to the Mesa Police Department.

Police say the incident began on Friday, January 16, 2026, just before 10:00 p.m., when officers responded to the area of East University Drive and North 25th Street, Mesa AZ. Investigators learned a woman had allegedly been assaulted by her 25-year-old son. The suspect also allegedly stole the victim’s vehicle before fleeing the residence. Following the initial investigation, officers developed probable cause to arrest the suspect on assault and theft charges.

The situation continued into Saturday morning, when officers located the stolen vehicle shortly after 7:30 a.m. near Stapley Drive and East Main Street. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled. A short time later, the vehicle was located again—this time parked in the driveway of the original domestic violence scene.

Police were able to safely remove the victim from the residence, who confirmed the suspect was alone inside. Due to the barricaded suspect, the Mesa Police SWAT team was requested to respond.

After several hours of negotiations, the suspect exited the residence but refused to comply with officers’ commands. At one point, police say he threw rocks at officers. In response, officers deployed less-lethal munitions, including bean bag and pepper ball rounds. The suspect was then taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

According to Detective Aguirre, the suspect will be booked into the Mesa Jail on multiple charges, including: