At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23, Holbrook Police officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of 8th Avenue in reference to a theft and criminal damage incident. According to HPD, the victim believed the parties responsible were relatives. Surveillance footage showed three male subjects on the property before they destroyed the cameras. Taken were a barbecue grill and other items. Witnesses reported a large blue pickup truck fleeing the area.
While this incident was being investigated, an emergency call for service was received from a residence in the 800 block of West Buffalo Street reporting a home invasion in progress.
The suspects forced their way into the home and held a knife to the throat of resident Jonathan Sample, 35, of Holbrook, as the other two burglarized the home and a vehicle. The suspects stole cell phones and other items from inside the house.
According to Sample, he was able to fight back against the suspects who reportedly ran outside and began going through their vehicle. Sample, fearing they were looking for a weapon, fired two rounds from a firearm at the vehicle.
The suspects then got into the vehicle and fled the scene and were spotted on Delaware Street near Holbrook City Hall. The suspects were able to evade Arizona State Troopers who attempted to stop the vehicle, leading officers, troopers and Navajo County Sheriff’s deputies in a vehicle pursuit through Holbrook and onto eastbound Interstate 40, where the suspects later crashed the vehicle near Milepost 292.
The suspects resisted arrest and fought with the officers but were subdued using a taser and taken into custody.
The suspects were identified as Elzandro Arsenio Benton, 34, of Holbrook, Dustin Williams, 34, of Rock Point and the third subject refused to identify himself and was booked as a “John Doe,” all who were linked to both crime scenes by evidence located within the vehicle.
The subjects were charged with multiple felonies including burglary, kidnapping and aggravated assault, and booked into the Navajo County Jail.
