Cops pay for man’s meal at IHOP, arrest him for murder

PHOENIX — Two Phoenix police officers were simply trying to do a good deed and get help for a young man with mental health issues. What they ended up with was a New Year’s Eve arrest in connection with a stabbing death.

The officers had gone to a Phoenix IHOP restaurant after employees called and said a man had ordered and eaten a meal but could not pay for it, Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.

The officers determined that 23-year-old Mykel Cantrel Cooper had some sort of mental health issues, paid his tab and took him to a facility for treatment, Thompson said.

Cooper then told mental health staff at the facility he had “done something bad” to his roommate.

Officers went to Cooper’s apartment in the area of 19th and Northern avenues and found the body of 29-year-old Steven Horkovy. Horkovy, Cooper’s roommate, appeared to have been stabbed to death some time on Dec. 30, Thompson said.

Cooper was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.