The Brief
- A 23-year-old Mesa man was arrested after allegedly breaking into a Tempe church, causing $10,000 in damage and stealing a youth group’s PlayStation 5.
- Investigators tracked the suspect using street cameras after his getaway car blew a tire, linking him to a roadside incident where he admitted to attacking a pastor.
- Tempe police arrested Erick Encinas at his apartment after discovering the damaged vehicle, church property and clothing matching the surveillance footage.
TEMPE, Ariz. – A 23-year-old Mesa man faces felony charges after allegedly smashing his way into a Tempe church, stealing electronics and causing roughly $10,000 in damage — a break-in that unraveled after police say his getaway car blew a tire near the city line.
What we know:
Erick Encinas was arrested Tuesday at his Mesa apartment by the Tempe Police Department’s Criminal Apprehension and Surveillance Team. He was booked into the Tempe City Jail on charges of burglary and aggravated criminal damage following a multi-agency investigation that linked church surveillance, street cameras and an odd roadside confession.…