Murder investigation underway in Mesa after man was found dead in alley
Mesa Police investigating man's murder
Police have identified a person who was found dead in a Mesa alley on May 12, and the man's death is being treated as a homicide. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen reports.
MESA, Ariz. - Police are investigating after a man was found dead on Monday in an alley in Mesa.
What we know:
According to Mesa Police, officers responded on May 12 to the area of Broadway Road and Mesa Drive for reports of a person who appeared to be dead.
Once at the scene, officers found the victim, who has since been identified as 47-year-old Jerry Deitch.
In a statement, investigators said Deitch appeared to have been stabbed. Officers were at the scene for some time to investigate, but they left before 4:00 p.m.
Local perspective:
Surveillance cameras can be found just a few feet above where police found the body. Witnesses, however, say the cameras didn't capture pivotal moments surrounding the incident.
"We don’t know exactly what happened," said Jesus Chimao with an area business called 'The New Tire Shop.'
Chimao said he couldn't share the video, because investigators have already taken it as evidence. However, he described what he saw.
According to Chimao, two people can be seen walking to a spot before 4:00 a.m., and of the two people, one of them later left alone.
"It’s just like some people come to the same point where the body is, and left," said Chimao.
"Are they fighting or arguing or anything?" we asked Chimao.
"I didn’t see their faces. Can’t see it," Chimao replied. He went on to say the actual moment of the victim's death is blocked from the cameras' view.
Chimao said the police presence was bad for business on May 12.
"Lots of police, and a lot of people are scared of the police right now, unfortunately," said Chimao. "It goes literally down."