Daily Archives: September 24, 2014

Suspicious Activity Involving a Child

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies are requesting assistance in identifying and locating a Native American female who offered a nine year-old child a ride as the child exited a school bus at the bus stop in her neighborhood. It is believed the driver of a maroon or red older SUV possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe followed the child to her home and attempted to make contact with occupants inside the house.

On Friday, September 12, 2014 at about 1:22 pm a Sheriff’s Dispatcher received a call of a trespass in progress with a child inside the home and an adult Native American female attempting to get inside. A deputy was met with the girl and her father at their Doney Park residence.

According to the child she exited the school bus at the stop located at the intersection of Townsend Winona Road and Bluefield Road. She noticed a red SUV parked by the exit door of the bus. As she walked by the vehicle a Native American woman in the driver’s seat asked the child if she wanted a ride home to which she replied no.

As the child proceeded to walk home she noticed that the red SUV was following her. The child then dropped her water bottle and ran home crossing several residential yards in the process. Once at her home the child saw the SUV drive up in front of her house and stop.

According to the child the woman exited her vehicle, approached the front door and knocked on it. The woman asked in a voice loud enough for the child to hear if anyone was at home. The child was so frightened by the woman’s actions that she hid in a room located within the home. Eventually the woman left the area.

The suspect is described as a heavyset adult Native American female. The vehicle is described as a red or maroon SUV, possibly an older model and possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe. Anyone with information regarding this incident or with information regarding the identity of the Native American female is asked to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at (928)774-6111.

New specialty license plates now available

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new-vanity-platePHOENIX – Three new specialty license plates to help personalize and customize your vehicle are now available for purchase from the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

The new plates include a Girls Youth Organization plate to support the Girl Scouts; an Arizona Motorsports Commemorative plate for Phoenix International Raceway; and a redesigned Phoenix Suns plate.

Like many of Arizona’s specialty license plates, these three support specific charities. Funds raised by the Girls Youth Organization license plate will provide enriching experiences in Arizona’s Girl Scouts program, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects and cultural exchanges.

“We are thrilled to have a Girl Scout license plate. It’s a great way for parents and alumnae to show their support and $17 of the proceeds goes directly back to local Girl Scouts. Each license plate is actually an investment in Arizona girls and our future,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council.

Funds raised by the Phoenix International Raceway license plate will go to Motorsports Charities to provide resources and charitable support for children through education, medical treatment, dream experiences and volunteerism.

“We are thrilled to be able to help race fans show their NASCAR pride with this license plate and to support a great cause in the process,” said PIR President Bryan R. Sperber. “The idea for a custom plate was spurred by fan requests, so we are proud to make this available to them. The plates also create a wonderful legacy from our 50th Anniversary that will last well beyond this year.”

The redesigned Phoenix Suns plate will continue to support Phoenix Suns Charities for youth education and development, college scholarship programs and community development.

The license plates have an annual fee of $25 for a non-personalized plate and $50 for a personalized plate, with $17 going to support the charities. Vehicle owners can purchase the new plates at any MVD or Authorized Third Party office location or online at ServiceArizona.com.

Because the Phoenix Suns license plate is a new design, anyone with the current plate design can request the new plate design for a $5 replacement fee. However, the redesigned plate has six characters instead of the seven that are on the current Suns plate. So those with a personalized Suns plate with seven characters would not be able to transfer their personalization to the new design. They can reapply for the new design, but would have to start the application process from the beginning.

The older, original Phoenix Suns license plate design is still valid for use.

There are no special requirements to get the license plates. The plates are also available with a disability symbol.

Forest Service Officer Involved Shooting Update

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CLINT WELLS, AZ – The Forest Service Officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, September 19, 2014 in the Blue ridge area which resulted in the death of the individual who attacked the officer is ongoing.

The deceased man has been identified as sixty-six year old Courtney James VanRiper—also spelled Van Ripper—with a last known address in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is also believed that at some point Mr. VanRiper resided in an unknown city or town in Wyoming. Coconino County Sheriff’s detectives have not been able to identify or contact any of his next of kin. Mr. VanRiper’s name is being released at this point in the investigation with the hope that someone who knows him can assist investigators in identifying and contacting his family members.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the external portion of this investigation. The Forest Service Officer who conducted the contact with Mr. VanRiper has been identified as thirty-four year old Douglas A. Pederson. Officer Pederson has been employed with the Forest for 15 years in several capacities. Douglas Pederson has been a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer for 2 years.

On Friday, September 19, 2014 at 1:46 pm Officer Pederson contacted a Sheriff’s Office dispatcher by radio to advise he was contacting an individual who was camping in the area of the junction of Highway 260 and State Route 87 off of Forest Service road 616. It should be noted that the Sheriff’s Office provides dispatch and radio communication services to Forest Service Officers who work within Coconino County. During subsequent transmissions Officer Pederson advised dispatch that shots had been fired, requested emergency medical services immediately and gave his location.

Emergency medical personnel of the Pine/Strawberry Fire Department treated Mr. VanRiper at the scene and transported him to the Payson Regional Medical Center. Mr. VanRiper was pronounced deceased on Friday, September 19, 2014. Officers with the United States Forest Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations also responded to the location of the shooting.

At this point in the investigation detectives have learned that Officer Pederson observed a vehicle parked in an unimproved area of the forest at a temporary campsite. According to the officer he approached the camp and made contact with Mr. VanRiper. According to Officer Pederson Mr. VanRiper had the DVD player in the vehicle on so loud that communication was difficult. The officer asked him to turn the DVD player down.

While in the vehicle Mr. VanRiper spent a considerable amount of time sorting through items and the officer told him several times to come out of the vehicle. Once Mr. VanRiper exited his vehicle he had a large can of bear repellant/pepper spray which he used to spray at the officer striking him in his face.

Officer Pederson who was partially incapacitated and with impaired vision fired multiple rounds at the suspect striking VanRiper twice. Officer Pederson administered first aid to Mr. VanRiper until he was relieved by emergency medical personnel.

Detectives learned that Mr. VanRiper was the subject of an outstanding felony warrant for probation violation issued out of the Yavapai County Superior Court. The vehicle Mr. VanRiper was in possession of was reported as stolen out of Flagstaff, Arizona. Mr. VanRiper was also in possession of a stolen handgun.