A former Mesa High School student is behind bars, accused of attacking four Junior ROTC students.
25-year-old Ceaser Ruben Meraz is a former Mesa High School student, but police don't believe he targeted the school for any particular reason other than he was upset and wanted to pick a fight.
Around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, Meraz approached a group of JROTC students as they were putting up the school's flags -- something the JROTC students do every morning.
According to witnesses, the suspect approached them, didn't say much, then just started swinging.
The students had some cuts and bruises, but nothing serious.
Just as the suspect was trying to leave, a school resource officer who had just arrived for his shift stopped Meraz and detained him.
Later in the day, Meraz was arrested and booked into jail.
According to court documents, he was upset because there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was avoiding the police all night and apparently wanted to lash out.
"The subject admitted to everything and his only explanation was that he felt like getting into a fight," said Mesa Police Sgt. Tony Landato. "If you are going to wander onto campus and assault students or staff you are going to go to jail. We have zero tolerance for that and the safety of those on campus is the highest priority."
Police say the suspect picked another fight while being booked into jail. He punched a detention officer in the face at Mesa City Jail. There was a uniformed police officer close by who intervened and used a taser on the subject.
So in addition to the charges for attacking those students, Meraz is also looking at charges for assaulting a police officer and a detention officer.
The school has decided to push back the time the Junior ROTC students raise the flag to later in the morning, when more people are on campus.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:51 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:51:26 GMT
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company.
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company. The American Guild of Musical Artists said the eight remaining dancers of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet have accepted buyout packages.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:06:47 GMT
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Ceaser Ruben Meraz
Surveillance picture from Mesa City Jail
