Social media posts spread false reports of active shooter
YPD, other agencies were involved in pursuit of suspect in vehicle theft
The Yuma Police Department, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety all verified there was not an active shooter incident in Yuma Wednesday and reported that social media posts about the situation were erroneous.
Officer Janet Sanchez, a spokesperson for YPD, explained that at approximately 11:53 a.m., officers were doing surveillance on a vehicle that had been stolen earlier in the morning in the 1400 block of East 16th Street by an individual with an active warrant for his arrest.
With assistance of other law enforcement agencies, she said, Yuma police officers were able to track the vehicle into the area of avenue A and County 15th Street, whey they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 35-yearold David Xavier Garcia, refused to stop and fled the scene.
According to DPS spokesperson Bart Graves, Yuma police asked for assistance from members of the Gang Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GITEM) task force for assistance in the matter.
“There was a brief pursuit of a suspect wanted on a felony warrant in which our detectives assisted,” Graves said.
The pursuit ended near County 15th Street and Highway 95, where Garcia and a passenger in the vehicle were taken into custody. Both were later transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
“Once the vehicle stopped, Garcia took off running,” Sanchez said.
No other injuries were reported, and the case is still under investigation.
Garcia was booked into the Yuma County jail on charges of burglary, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, criminal trespass and violating conditions of release.
His bond is currently set at $25,000.
YPD encourages anyone with any information about this case to call them at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.