Video Captures Arrest of Resisting Driver
Mesa, Ariz. — An Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) Trooper stopped a driver along State Route 202 at Brown Road for criminal speed. The trooper had measured the vehicle’s speed with radar at 95 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. After telling the driver he was under arrest, the driver pushed the trooper and continued to physically resist the arrest. Two citizens observed the trooper struggling with the suspect on the ground, stopped and helped take the driver into custody. A third citizen recorded a portion of the confrontation on video.
On Monday, July 25, at about 12:55 p.m., 34-year-old Marc LeBeau was observed speeding on SR-202 near Brown Rd., traveling 95 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. A State trooper working radar in the area, initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle LeBeau was driving. LeBeau was slow to pull over; when the vehicle finally stopped, he opened the driver’s door, suspiciously leaned out and reached toward the ground. The trooper cautiously approached LeBeau, advising him of the reason for the stop and told him he was under arrest. While attempting to take LeBeau into custody, he assaulted the trooper by pushing him while refusing to be handcuffed. LeBeau continued to push the officer while complaining the pavement was hot on his bare feet. The trooper was able to place one handcuff on him but was unable to gain control of LeBeau. The trooper continued to verbally and physically try getting LeBeau to sit on the curb so he could finish cuffing him. The struggle transitioned to the ground where LeBeau continued to resist arrest by turning and pulling away from the trooper and refusing to give him his hands. Two passing motorist stopped to help the trooper get LeBeau into handcuffs. In 30 seconds LeBeau was under control and a few seconds later in the back of the patrol car.
LeBeau was medically treated at the scene by fire department personnel as well as transported to a local hospital where he was treated for minor scrapes and released. The trooper was not injured.
Impairment is suspected as a contributing factor to this arrest. LeBeau was booked into the MCSO 4th Avenue Jail for Criminal Speed, Resisting Arrest and DUI-Drugs.
“Although the pavement was hot, it did not have to end up there," said Lt. Colonel Daniel Lugo, Assistant Director of AZ DPS, “We don’t get to pick the location a combative suspect wants to fight…they do. Thanks to two courageous citizens helping our trooper, we were able to gain control of Mr. LeBeau and get him in the back of a police car before he seriously hurt himself or our trooper.”
The 2 minute 48 second video was provided by Austin Maxwell and began recording near the end of the trooper’s contact with LeBeau. The video depicts LeBeau clearly disobeying and resisting the trooper and citizens as they tried to place him under arrest. The video is provided with his permission.
