Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was also arrested on suspicion of leaving white powder on political signs in Ahwatukee, according to Tempe police.

Federal agents on Wednesday morning hauled more than 120 firearms, including “machine guns,” out of the Ahwatukee Foothills home of a man suspected of shooting at a campaign office for the Democratic Party three times and posting bags of white powder labeled as poison near political signs.

Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was arrested on Tuesday night near his Ahwatukee Foothills home by Tempe police who, according to court documents, used surveillance footage to find the suspect.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeEnglish
    97·
    1 month ago

    Phoenix attorney Paul Weich told The Republic he was running as a Democrat for state representative in Legislative District 12 in 2022 when he had a run-in with Kelly. Prompted by several hundred dollars’ worth of his campaign signs going missing in June 2022, Weich hired an investigator who he said found surveillance video catching Kelly in the act.

    …

    Despite evidence pointing to Kelly as the perpetrator, Weich said law enforcement did not move to arrest him. Weich said that Phoenix police feared that approaching Kelly would pose a threat to their safety. A prosecutor out of the Phoenix City Attorney’s Office declined to pursue charges, Weich said.

    • jeffw@lemmy.world
      64·
      1 month ago

      If you are a cop afraid to confront a criminal, isn’t that what special units are for? Like wtf are we giving SWAT teams tanks for if they can’t deal with this?

      • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
        41·
        1 month ago

        They also could just arrest him when he left his house for beers or whatever. They dont have to no knock him like he’s “sleeping while black” or anything.

      • Granbo's Holy Hotrod@lemmy.world
        20·
        1 month ago

        If he was handicapped and homeless they would be neck checking this fucker. Probably ly a lie anyway…I bet they went, questioned him, had a big laugh, shook hands and called it a day. This is PHXPD

      • Nasan@sopuli.xyz
        8·
        1 month ago

        They’ll always have excuses, it’s how they justify bigger budgets and ridiculous departmental purchases.

        “What if they have anti tank rockets?” “What if they’re using suicide drones?” “What if they start taking shots at us with phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range?”

        The spectre of the unstoppable criminal provides an extra profit stream for defense contractors on top of forever wars.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      46·
      1 month ago

      Despite evidence pointing to Kelly as the perpetrator, Weich said law enforcement did not move to arrest him. Weich said that Phoenix police feared that approaching Kelly would pose a threat to their safety.

      That’s literally their job. They aren’t going to send regular officers to that shit. There are teams specifically trained for those situations. Whoever made that decision should be fired and blacklisted from ever working as an officer again. But we know nothing will happen about it.

      • lemmyng@lemmy.caEnglish
        26·
        1 month ago

        Seems like those cops went to the same school as the Uvalde piss babies.

        • nillocEnglish
          5·
          1 month ago

          They may have. Third party police training is common, and a few companies train large numbers of officers (to be mortally afraid of any unexpected loud sound).

      • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
        8·
        1 month ago

        Did you notice the part where it was Dems being shot at? Could be a correlation between who the cops serve and protect and what side of the aisle they identify with.

    • undercrust@lemmy.ca
      19·
      1 month ago

      Coward cops doing cowardly things.

      Partisan prosecutors propping up their Republican buddies.

      Justice for some in America, like usual.