A robbery suspect shot by Mesa police has been released from the hospital and is facing multiple charges.
Authorities say officers encountered 18-year-old Joseph Villafan Tuesday night after a woman reported being robbed.
According to charging documents, two officers followed the suspect's vehicle into a neighborhood.
After crashing the vehicle, the driver, Villafan, and a female passenger attempted to run.
Villafan allegedly pointed a handgun toward an officer, which prompted the officer to fire, striking the suspect in the arm.
Villafan told the unidentified woman who was also arrested that he did not want to go back to jail and "would fire a gun at police trying to arrest him."
Villafan was arrested on multiple counts including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
No attorney was listed for him.
