Man who escaped Mesa police custody dies after crash

A man who escaped Mesa Police Department custody earlier in the month died after crashing a stolen motorcycle this week, the Department said Saturday. 

Anthony Rosales faced a misdemeanor shoplifting charge and was facing “a few” warrants for non-violent drug charges when he was arrested earlier this month, police spokesperson Det. Richard Encinas said.

Rosales was sitting on a bench in a fenced holding area outside of a jail when the arresting officer turned away to complete booking paperwork. Rosales was able to leave the holding area as the door was closing and made it into the neighborhood in “less than a minute,” Encinas said.

A brief search for Rosales was unsuccessful at the time, he said.