Officer Injured During Mental Health Call in Mesa After Being Bitten by Subject

Mesa, Ariz. — A Mesa police officer was injured late last night during a mental health call after being bitten by a subject, according to officials.

The incident unfolded around 11:57 p.m. MST on Thursday night, when Mesa police responded to reports of a person experiencing a mental health crisis. According to a Mesa Police spokesperson, the subject bit and injured one of the responding officers during the encounter. The injured officer was transported for a routine medical evaluation and is expected to recover.

Earlier reports placed the incident at 3231 E Isabella Ave, but by 10:12 p.m. MST, the listed location had been updated to the area of S Creston and E Isabella Avenue.

At 10:11 p.m. MST, a Citizen app user shared video showing police and EMS attending to an injured officer at the scene. At 10:18 p.m. MST, eyewitnesses reported that an individual was transported from the scene by ambulance, though officials have not yet confirmed whether this was the subject involved in the incident or another party.

The incident was first reported on the Citizen safety app at 10:09 p.m. MST by a community member, with the platform noting it was still working to gather more information at the time. Users nearby were encouraged to broadcast live or provide real-time updates as the scene developed.

Mesa police have not yet released additional details about the subject involved, including their current condition or whether they will face charges. It is also not yet clear what prompted the original mental health call.

The case highlights the risks officers can face during mental health-related emergencies, which can be unpredictable and potentially violent despite efforts to de-escalate. The Mesa Police Department operates a Crisis Response Team aimed at safely resolving such situations, pairing officers with behavioral health professionals.

Authorities say more information will be released as the investigation continues.