A teacher who was under investigation for allegedly molesting a minor committed suicide on Wednesday as Phoenix police attempted to arrest him, according to officials.
On March 23, the Phoenix Police Department responded to a complaint reporting sexual abuse of a juvenile. When they arrived, they spoke with an adult woman, who revealed that when she was 16, she had a three-year sexual relationship with a Paradise Valley Unified School District staff member.
Phoenix officers investigated the allegations and found probable cause to arrest 65-year-old Steven Charles Mitten.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, cops found Mitten in his automobile and used a grappler to stop it. They tried to take him into custody. According to police, Mitten disobeyed commands and was armed with a handgun.
During the encounter, he eventually turned the weapon against himself. The Phoenix Fire Department brought him to a local hospital, but he eventually died of his injuries.
The Phoenix Police Department collaborates with the Paradise Valley Unified School District to conduct the investigation. This case exemplifies our detectives’ ongoing dedication to assisting survivors, particularly in cases involving crimes against minors,” Phoenix police said in a statement.
Mitten was a teacher at Shadow Mountain High School when the investigation was undertaken, according to a statement released by the Paradise Valley Unified School District on Thursday.
When school officials learned about the police inquiry, Mitten was placed on administrative leave.