A daytime theft of a catalytic converter in Mesa ended with one man in custody, a second person detained at the scene and what police say was a vehicle found loaded with dozens of stolen parts and tools. Officers responding to a report of a theft discovered 14 catalytic converters in the bed of a black pickup, along with saws and other equipment, and say a handgun was hidden inside the truck.
Police identified the person arrested as William Eugene Lightfoot, 41, and booked him on an array of charges that include second- and third-degree burglary, possessing burglary tools, theft, trading used catalytic converters and resisting arrest. Authorities say the incident began Tuesday morning when they were called after a catalytic converter was removed from a Ford Excursion and loaded into a black Ford Ranger by three people.
Officers located the pickup traveling west on Broadway Road and conducted a traffic stop at a nearby gas station. The driver and owner of the truck cooperated with officers, but Lightfoot and a third man fled on foot from the scene, police say. A subsequent search of the truck bed turned up 14 stolen catalytic converters, and officers also found a reciprocating saw, multiple saw blades and a black handgun holstered beneath the driver’s seat.
A catalytic converter mounted under a vehicle — police say officers recovered 14 stolen converters after the Mesa traffic stop.
Investigators say surveillance footage and witness accounts helped piece together the sequence of events. A witness told officers three men removed the converter from the victim’s vehicle and loaded it into the Ford Ranger. Video from a nearby business showed a person matching Lightfoot’s description step out of the pickup with a reciprocating saw, approach the victim’s Ford Excursion and return a short time later carrying the catalytic converter.
Court papers further state that a co-defendant interviewed by police admitted involvement in the thefts and told officers Lightfoot had been carrying a gun in his waistband during the series of thefts. The co-defendant is also reported to have acknowledged the thefts during interrogation. As officers followed leads, a homeowner on West Main Street reported seeing a man in the backyard discard shoes and gloves. Those items were recovered along with a wallet and two credit cards bearing Lightfoot’s name, court filings say.
Officers located Lightfoot near the intersection of Dobson Road and University Drive. The probable cause statement describes Lightfoot as having “passively resisted arrest by pulling his body away and failing to comply [with] lawful commands.” The document records that an officer deployed a department-issued stun gun to gain compliance. During questioning after his apprehension, Lightfoot is said to have admitted to fleeing the traffic stop and to stealing the converters, referring to them by the slang term “cats.”
A judge set bond at $100,000 for Lightfoot after a court evaluation rated him as an extreme flight risk, reporting that he posed the highest risk for causing trouble or failing to appear if released before trial. Lightfoot remains in custody with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 25. The other man who ran from the scene and the driver of the truck were also interviewed by police; court records indicate the driver complied with officers and the co-defendant made admissions during questioning.
The recovered items — the 14 catalytic converters, tools consistent with cutting and removing the parts, a reciprocating saw and multiple blades, and a holstered handgun — were listed in the arrest paperwork as evidence tied to the alleged thefts. Charges filed against Lightfoot include multiple counts related to burglary and theft, as well as possessing burglary tools and trading used catalytic converters, a charge that reflects the commercial resale aspect of recovered stolen converters.
Mugshot released by Maricopa County authorities of the person arrested following a Mesa foot pursuit and stun-gun deployment; police recovered tools and a hidden handgun.
The investigation that led to the stop and follow-up arrests drew on witness statements, surveillance video and items discarded in a residential yard, according to the documents filed in the case. Authorities say the string of property recoveries — and admissions obtained from a co-defendant — were central to linking the suspects to the reported daytime theft.
The criminal case now proceeds through the Maricopa County system. Lightfoot’s arraignment and the preliminary hearing set for June 25 will be the next scheduled appearances on his case calendar. Prosecutors and officers handling the investigation have cataloged the recovered converters and related evidence as they prepare for potential prosecution. No additional information about the co-defendant’s status or charges was detailed in the court records filed as of Wednesday.