Two Phoenix Police officers were injured in a shooting incident, and the suspect, 41-year-old Saul Bal, faces attempted murder charges following his arrest. The altercation occurred when officers responded to a reported car break-in near 15th Street and McDowell Road. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the suspect fled and fired upon the pursuing officers, leading to their injuries.
Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan informed that one officer was protected by his ballistic vest and remained in stable condition, while the other was critically wounded. Saul Bal's run-ins with the law trace back to at least 2008, encompassing convictions for attempted burglary, unlawful transportation use, disorderly conduct, and drug offenses, corroborated by information from multiple counties within Arizona and even time served in the New Mexico Corrections Department, as found by FOX 10 Phoenix.
During his court appearance, Bal denied possessing a weapon at the time of the incident, an assertion met with a judge's reminder of his right to silence. The judge also highlighted Bal's substantial criminal record, noting "Your criminal record, which does indeed appear to be extensive and does involve at least two prior allegations of violence against police officers," according to a statement from AZ Family. Prosecutors pointed to Bal's status as a prohibited possessor and on parole at the time of the shooting, with his history including a two-year California prison sentence for an altercation with a police officer.
Retired Maricopa County probation officer Beth Goulden suggests that a thorough analysis should be conducted on the criminal justice system's handling of Bal's case, acknowledging, "I don’t think that when I look at the assessments and what I know of risk factors, I would consider him low-risk," as she told AZ Family. She emphasizes the necessity of understanding what could have been done differently given Bal's lengthy criminal background. Amidst the ongoing investigation, the judge has set Bal's cash bond at $2 million and sealed probable cause documents related to the case.
