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Information Regarding 4/29 Police Incident
On May 12, 2021, a Maricopa County Grand Jury indicted Jonathon J. Altland Jr. in connection to the tragic events of April 29th that took the life of Chandler Police Officer Christopher Farrar and critically injured Gilbert Police Officer Rico Aranda.
Altland was charged with:
- One count of First-Degree Murder, a Class 1 Felony
- Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement, a Class 5 Felony
- Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class 3 Felony
- Endangerment, a Class 6 Felony
- 20 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Class 2 Felonies
- Two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Class 3 Felonies
- Two counts of Theft of Means of Transportation, Class 3 Felonies
- And four counts of Disorderly Conduct-Fighting, Misdemeanors in the First Degree
Incident Summary:
On April 29, 2021, at approximately 10:10 PM, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy patrolling westbound I-10 near MM 212 attempted to stop a yellow pickup truck for speeding.
The vehicle, driven by 25-year-old Jonathon J. Altland Jr., fled from the deputy, exiting at Highway 87 and traveling at speeds of 100 to 120 mph. The pursuit continued as the suspect vehicle drove erratically, swerving into both lanes of travel, and driving in the opposite lane. Near the area of Arica Road and Hwy 87, the deputy's passenger side windshield was shattered, having sustained gunfire from Altland's fleeing vehicle.
Multiple agencies, including Coolidge Police, Gila River Police, Gilbert Police, Chandler Police, and DPS became involved while a police helicopter established a visual of the yellow pickup truck. The vehicle drove through a gate at the Chandler Municipal Airport then fled the airport and continued recklessly driving the wrong way onto the 202 Santan Freeway.
Altland then crashed the vehicle into a fence on the northern embankment of the 202 Freeway and was observed fleeing on foot into a nearby car dealership, San Tan Ford.
While inside the dealership, Altland confronted and threatened janitorial staff. Officers began to converge on the location and established a perimeter. Altland stole a vehicle from inside the dealership and attempted to flee the lot. During his attempted flight, he accelerated and veered directly at multiple groups of officers. Fearing for their lives and the lives of fellow officers, multiple officers fired their weapons in an attempt to stop Altland; however, Altland continued through the parking lot where he struck Chandler Police Officer Christopher Farrar, who later died of his injuries, a janitorial employee, a DPS officer and also severely injured Gilbert Officer Rico Aranda. Altland was transported to the hospital to be medically treated for injuries sustained during this incident.
Our thoughts are with the Chandler Police Department and the family of Officer Christopher Farrar who touched so many lives. His loss has left a hole in all of our hearts. Gilbert Officer Rico Aranda is continuing to go through his recovery process. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community. Our Gilbert Police Department detectives are working diligently to investigate the events of this evening and all agencies involved will work together to provide updates as they become available.
We would like to remind the public that a charge in a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
At 10:35 PM, Gilbert Police were made aware of a pursuit that was heading towards the Valley from the Eloy area. The pursuit was heading northbound on State Route 87 towards Chandler. Information was provided that the suspect Jonathon Altland (25 years old), had fired shots at the Pinal County Sheriff Deputies attempting to make a traffic stop near Eloy, AZ.
Altland continued into Chandler, and eventually crashing through the Chandler Municipal Airport at 10:39 PM. Altland then attempted to evade officers by driving in opposing lanes of traffic on surface streets and on and off from the 202 Santan Freeway. The pursuit continued into Gilbert where it ended in the area of Val Vista and the 202 Santan freeway. Altland crashed the truck he was driving into the exterior fencing of the Ford auto dealership. He fled on foot, still armed with a handgun at 10:52 PM. He was able to gain access to the building through an open roll up door to the maintenance area of the dealership where custodial staff were working.
Officers from Gilbert, Chandler, Pinal County and DPS surrounded the building. Altland was able to gain access to a vehicle inside the dealership building. At 11:04 PM, the suspect crashed the stolen vehicle through a closed bay door. Officers from DPS and Pinal County Sheriff’s Office discharged their weapons as a result of the suspect attempting to run them over after crashing through the bay door. The suspect continued his intentional attack on the officers, striking and killing Chandler Officer Christopher Farrar. The suspect continued to drive striking a parked car that struck Gilbert Officer Rico Aranda causing serious injuries. Ofc. Aranda has been with Gilbert Police for nearly three years and is in critical but stable condition.
Altland was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The pursuit involved Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, AZ DPS Troopers and Chandler Police officers. Pinal County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating and submitting charges related to their involvement with the initial traffic stop and attempted murder of an officer. The Chandler Police Department will be submitting charges related to the suspect entering the airport. The Gilbert Police Department is investigating the events at the termination of the pursuit. Altland is facing charges of murder, aggravated assault and auto theft (theft of means of transportation).