Daily Archives: July 24, 2014

Inmate Death at Coconino County Detention Facility

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FLAGSTAFF – Clinton Lee Davis, age 49 of Idaho, was discovered in his cell on Wednesday evening and was subsequently determined to be deceased as the result of suicide by hanging.

Mr. Davis has been an inmate at the Coconino County Detention Facility since April, 13 2014 when he was booked by Page Police Department for multiple criminal offenses to include Burglaries, Thefts, Criminal Damage and Prohibited Weapons Possession. Mr. Davis also was being held on an out of state warrant for original offenses of Burglaries and Thefts.

Prior to his death Mr. Davis was assigned to a two person cell in a housing unit. The housing unit has a common day use area that inmates are allowed to use. At approximately 4:42 pm Detention Officers were alerted by inmates assigned to the housing unit that Mr. Davis appeared to be hanging from a ladder attached to a two person bunk bed. Detention Officers immediately responded and placed him on the floor at which point they began life saving efforts to include CPR. A Registered Nurse assigned to the facility also responded with an AED device.

Detention Officers and the nurse continued to administer lifesaving efforts until the arrival of Guardian Medical personnel who assumed medical care of Mr. Davis. He did not respond to life saving efforts and was pronounced deceased. Mr. Davis was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office and Sheriff’s personnel notified his next of kin.

At this point in the investigation no foul play is suspected and it appears that Mr. Davis died of a self-inflected injury.

Arizona joins “botched execution” list

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wood_joseph1FLORENCE, ARIZONA – Arizona now joins the list of so-called botched executions with the two-hour ordeal of Joseph Rudolph Wood III. Wood was put to death for the murder of his estranged girlfriend and father in a body shop in Tucson, Arizona.

The Arizona ACLU issued a statement calling for a moratorium on executions until it can be proved that the murders die more peaceful than their victims.

The events surrounding Mr. Wood’s execution clearly signal that Arizona must put a moratorium on executions. Until state officials can convince the public and the people we plan to put to death that the process will be transparent and in compliance with the Eighth Amendment, the death penalty must be put on hold. What happened today to Mr. Wood was an experiment that the state did its best to hide. Now we see that our government officials cannot be trusted to take seriously our Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Arizona had clear warnings from Ohio and Oklahoma. Instead of ensuring that a similar outcome was avoided here, our state officials cloaked the plans for Mr. Wood’s death in secrecy. Arizonans should not accept our state’s willingness to abandon one of our most fundamental constitutional obligations.

Unconcerned with complying with the Eighth Amendment, Joseph Wood carried out the double-execution in August 1989 of Debbie Dietz and her father Gene at their family-run car body shop in Tuscon, Arizona. It is not widely reported thus unknown exactly how long Debbie and Gene may have suffered in actual pain.

Governor Jan Brewer issued a statement expressing concern about the time it took for the Wood execution to complete.

I am concerned by the length of time it took for the administered drug protocol to complete the lawful execution of the convicted double murderer, Joseph Wood. While justice was carried out today, I directed the Department of Corrections to conduct a full review of the process.

One thing is certain, however, inmate Wood died in a lawful manner and by eyewitness and medical accounts he did not suffer. This is in stark comparison to the gruesome, vicious suffering that he inflicted on his two victims – and the lifetime of suffering he has caused their family.

According to The Arizona Star, surviving victim Jeanne Brown said.

You don’t know what excruciating is. Excruciating is seeing your dad lying in a pool of blood.

Her husband, Richard, stated that Wood got the punishment that he deserved.

According to the article, Wood at one point smiled at the family which angered them. In his final statement he said that he was thankful for Jesus Christ as his savior. He is quoted as saying:

I take comfort knowing today my pain stops, and I said a prayer that on this or any other day you may find peace in all of your hearts and may God forgive you all.

Charles Ryan, the Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, issued a statement indicating that the media and ACLU characterization of the execution is misleading. He stated that execution protocol was followed by the Department of Corrections and was “…monitored by an IV team of licensed medical professionals.”

Once the inmate was sedated, other than sonorous respiration, or snoring, he did not grimace or make any further movement. Throughout this execution, I conferred and collaborated with our IV team members and was assured unequivocally that the inmate was comatose and never in pain or distress.

Ryan noted that physiologically the time to complete an execution varies with each individual. The Pima County Medical Examiner will conduct a full autopsy and toxicology study.

The concern over lethal injection is not new in Arizona. In 2011, Daniel Wayne Cook received a stay of execution from the Supreme Court over the use of the knockout drug sodium thiopental. Cook raped, tortured and murdered Carlos Cruz Ramos, 26, and Kevin Swaney, 16 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The rape and torture of Ramos took some six-hours. It included cigarette burns and repeated beating and rape. He was executed in August of 2012 with no apparent complications.

The controversy today apparently stems from the use of a new concoction of drugs which is apparently kept a secret from the public.

Bearizona Backwoods BBQ- Redneck Family Fun for All

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Bearizona Backwoods BBQ music into the night. - Photo Courtesy of Bearizona

Bearizona Backwoods BBQ music into the night. – Photo Courtesy of Bearizona

WILLIAMS – Bearizona is hosting a Backwoods BBQ on July 26, from 12:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m. This event will be held in the Fort Bearizona walk-thru area of the park and is open to the public.

Live country music throughout the day, headlined by Marble Heart at 5:00 p.m., will set the mood for the event. Kids can jump ‘til their hearts content and get some Bearizona ink, in our Kid Zone. Barbecue food will be available for purchase as well as local beverage favorites Grand Canyon Brewery, Grand Canyon Winery, Historic Brewing Company & all your domestic favorites as well.

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Bearizona BBQ 2013. – Photo courtesy of Bearizona.

Bearizona is excited to welcome the Phoenix Herpetological Society who will be at the event with an alligator and an 18’ snake that attendees, who are adventurous enough, can get up-close, touch and get their picture taken with them. There will also be Bearizona’s walk thru animals on exhibit for all to see, including those adorable bear cubs.

Advance discount tickets for the Bearizona Backwoods BBQ can be purchased by going to www.bearizona.com. $8 ages (4-12) and $18 (13 & Up). Tickets at the event will cost $10 ages (4-12) and $20 (13 & Up). Tickets will get you into both the drive-thru and walk-thru areas of the park, however the drive-thru closes at 7p.m. Bearizona pass holders get into the event for free.

Folks who are interested in staying the night are encouraged to book their room at our preferred hotel vendor The Grand Canyon Railway.

Bearizona’s mission is to promote conservation through memorable and educational encounters with North American wildlife in a natural environment.

We will be available for live interviews at Phoenix Herpetological Society Wednesday morning with critters (gator, snake & baby porcupine). Please call to schedule.