TEMPE, AZ - - An automatic burglary alarm led to an odd and potentially dangerous situation for Tempe police officers.
Around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, officers swarmed a check cashing business near Southern and Mill avenues after reports the front windows were shattered.
"Our officers responded quickly and immediately surrounded the business," said Tempe Police Sergeant Steven Carbajal.
According to Carbajal, 21-year-old Sean Sexton was seen by officers firing a rifle at the business.
Officers quickly determined Sexton was carrying and using an "air-soft rifle" to shoot out the windows of the business.
Carbajal says Sexton turned the weapon towards officers and fired several times.
"Officers did realize it was an "air-soft" rifle and fortunately a potentially deadly force situation was avoided," said Carbajal.
According to the Tempe Police Department, Sexton is a student at Arizona State University and may have had some sort of vendetta against the check cashing business.
Carbajal says Sexton was wearing all black and at times shooting across a busy street making it difficult at first for officers to determine the type of weapon involved.
"He was a risk, a threat to officers and the community and the officers reacted accordingly and effectively," said Carbajal. "The Tempe Police Department has made training related to use of force situations a priority as officers can encounter a dangerous situation at a moments notice."
Sexton now faces 3 counts of aggravated assault for firing in the direction of police officers and a criminal damage charge, all are felonies.
"A suspect with any type of weapon is an obvious threat, but our quick thinking officers are well trained to handle any dangerous situation," said Carbajal.
No injuries were reported.
It's estimated the cost of damage to the check cashing business is more than $15,000.
