3 suspects in custody following overnight crime spree in Tempe

TEMPE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Nick Trogi was shocked to wake up to a large hole in his backyard wall.

Earlier this morning on the other side of the wall was a Dodge Avenger with its front end smashed up after the driver slammed into a moving train. The three people inside made a run for it but were quickly caught.

"They're pounding on the door on the other side," Kheva Best said.

Best lives less than a hundred yards from the scene and says she looked out her peep hole around 3 a.m., moments after the alarming knock.

"I saw an officer stand right in front of my door and I hear him yell, 'Stop!'" she said. "I kind of stepped back for a second, I heard a scuffle then I saw him pull out his gun, then I saw two officers and man on the ground."

A total of three juveniles were taken into custody and according to police, it all started with an armed robbery at a Whataburger in Phoenix. After that, the suspects held a pedestrian at gun point and stole his cell phone in Tempe, then back to Phoenix where they allegedly carjacked a woman.

"An MCSO deputy working in Guadalupe sees the suspect vehicle, the black Avenger, tries to stop it, flees, the other victim vehicle, it flees also and they leave at a high rate of speed," Sgt. Damon Despair of Tempe police said. "MCSO deputy, once it went into the neighborhood, he stopped the pursuit. The helicopter gives out information that three suspects bail from that vehicle, flee in different directions."

As of late this morning, Phoenix police were still looking for two more potential suspects last seen driving away in that stolen Nissan.