The city of Sedona has confirmed the identity of the man who was shot and killed by two Sedona police officers in the 50 block of Newcastle Lane around 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, as 41-year-old Jonathan David Messare.

Two Sedona police officers, Sgt. Casey Pelletier and Officer William “Bill” Hunt, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The leave allows officers to decompress and speak with investigators as required and counselors as needed.

Pelletier has been with the Sedona Police Department for eight years; Hunt for 14 years. Neither officer was injured.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is still investigating this incident and as the Sedona Police Department gathers more details, additional information will be released.

“This was a significant, unfortunate event for all involved – for David Messare, his family and friends, the involved officers, our entire police department and our community. An officer hopes to go their entire career without having to discharge their weapon. Our hearts go out to everyone affected and we will continue to release details as we gather them,” Sedona Police Department Chief of Police Charles Husted said.

The Sedona Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding this incident to contact the Arizona DPS at (602) 223-2212. 

Messare’s Criminal History in Oregon

Originally from New York state, Messare most recently lived in Salem, Ore. He was arrested March 6, 2019, by police in Portland, Ore., after he was reportedly near Hosford Middle School in southeast Portland, carrying a hatchet, yelling and taking off his clothes. After Portland police arrived, Messare reportedly threw the hatchet and a knife and charged at officers. 

One Portland police sergeant suffered a stabbing wound in his hand from a small knife Messare allegedly had concealed in his hand. Video from that incident as provided by KOIN 6, a CBS affiliate.

At the time of his arrest in Oregon, Messare faced second-degree assault, assaulting a public safety officer, attempted assault on a public safety officer, resisting arrest, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree disorderly conduct. theft and unlawful use of a weapon. A search warrant served at his home yielded an AR-15 rifle, shotgun, pistols, tactical gear, body armor and ammunition, which he was prohibited from possessing.

After being released from jail in Oregon, Messare was involved in another incident outside a storage unit where he was reportedly wearing a ballistic helmet, making statements about murdering his wife and daughter, again armed with a hatchet.

After a lengthy standoff he was taken into custody. During both arrests he was armed, displayed fear and aggression towards law enforcement, and assaulted officers as well as jail staff.

A trial was set for Oct. 15, 2019, but he reportedly did not appear. Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Stephen K. Bushong issued a warrant for his arrest on Oct. 17. Oregon courts also ordered a forensic mental health evaluation on Nov. 21. A failure to appear warrant was issued by Judge Bushong on Dec. 6.

Army Veteran

Messare served as an infantry sergeant in the U.S. Army with at least one tour in Iraq.

He injured his spine in Bagdad, Iraq, prior to 2006 and was medevaced from Bagdad to a field hospital at Balad Air Base. From there he was sent to Kuwait and then back to Balad for a flight to Germany. Surgery was delayed four times until he was finally treated via Landstuhl Hospital Care Project in Virginia.

Messare reportedly had four children but was estranged from their mother, according to social media.

“American Private Law Enforcement Association”

Messare co-founded the “American Private Law Enforcement Association” or APLEA Rangers in September 2016. 

The APLEA’s website has since gone defunct, reportedly by court order, but its Facebook page has more than 1,900 followers. Messare is still listed as a co-founder of the organization on a landing page that remains online.

Messare in Sedona

Messare, who referred to himself as “JLegend” or “Jonny Legend Erassem” was believed to have arrived in the Sedona area in late October, based on his social media posts, and was reportedly staying at an apartment and music studio on Contractors Road he called “WarFactor Studio.” It is unknown if he resided there at the time of his death.

Sedona police first had contact with Messare when a local business owner reported to police Messare he may have had warrants out of Oregon. 

A second call on Nov. 22 was from a relative who reported Messare was posting images of firearms. Messare was a prohibited possessor of firearms.

Subsequent calls to Oregon police provided Sedona police with the details of his arrest and assault on law enforcement in Oregon, which was shared with Sedona police officers, who were warned that Messare was not “law enforcement friendly” and to be cautious if encountering him.

On Dec. 7, Sedona police responded to a disorderly conduct call at his residence. Thought a prohibited possessor of firearms, he had a hatchet hanging from his person and “was very aggressive.” He was warned about being loud and disorderly and he agreed to keep it down.

As a veteran, Messare was interred in a military funeral at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, in Schuylerville, N.Y., on July 17, 2020.