No charges for armed robbery attempt

Two arrested after attempted robbery of drug dealer, police say

Feb. 22, 2010 03:02 PM
The Arizona Republic

Two Mesa men were arrested after a drug dealer was held up at gunpoint in an attempted robbery Saturday afternoon, police said.

Police responded to a report of gunshots in a neighborhood in the 200 block of North Gilbert Road at 4:30 p.m.

Witnesses saw two men leaving the scene in a car, a vehicle matching the description was pulled over a few blocks away on a side street near University Drive between Gilbert Road and Stapley Drive.

The men in the car were identified as driver Jonathan Walker and passenger Rodney Nielson, ages unavailable, police said. Walker was later reported to be driving with a suspended license.

Walker and Nielson both admitted to attempting to buy drugs, police said.

Nielson told police he pulled a gun on the drug dealer and tried to take his drugs and money, police said. Nielson also admitted to firing one round into the ground.

Walker told the officer that there was a black bag filled with drug paraphernalia behind the passenger seat, police said. The officer found the bag and found several syringes, a spoon with burnt residue, and tin foil. Walker and Nielson admitted to using the items to inject heroin.

Walker was booked on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under a suspended license. Nielson was arrested on charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm. Nielson was also being investigated on drug paraphernalia charges.