Burglary suspect arrested at airport
At around 3:00 a.m. on August 12, 2009, Phoenix Police officers proceeded to the Sprint Cellular Store in the area of 12800 North Tatum Boulevard in response to a burglary alarm. One patrol officer was in the area and arrived in time to observe two male suspects exiting the business with property. Both men entered a stolen Nissan and fled, eventually traveling southbound on State Route 51.
Police patrol officers followed the suspects until a police aircraft arrived, at which time they backed away. The passenger suspect fled from the vehicle in the area of 14th Street and Bethany Home Road but the driver continued to flee South on the SR 51. He eventually arrived at Sky Harbor International Airport where he entered the parking garage at Terminal 3 and abandoned the car. Police ground and K-9 units arrived at the parking garage and a search was conducted.
Suspect Manuel M. Marcias, 38, was detained just inside Terminal 3 by Phoenix airport police and was identified by an alert parking garage attendant who had observed him exiting the stolen car. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Marcias provided police with the name “Jesus Manuel Estrada”. The continuing police investigation revealed, by fingerprint identification, the suspect is actually Marcias. Further investigation has revealed the suspect, since at least 2006, has used several aliases and has a history of property related crimes. This history includes a felony warrant for burglary from 2006.
Mr. Marcias was booked into jail for burglary, unlawful use of a means of transportation, felony flight and the felony warrant. All property was recovered. There was no disruption of service at Sky Harbor Airport and at no time were passengers or employees considered to be in any danger.