Coconino County, AZ — Historically holiday weekends attract large numbers of people to northern Arizona. Deputies responded to multiple calls for service and initiated many contacts with the public over the Memorial Day weekend Friday, May 22 (noon) – Monday, May 25 (midnight). They responded to approximately 270 citizen requests for assistance and conducted over 500 patrol activities (e.g., area patrols, business checks, traffic stops, etc.).
In efforts to enhance highway, roadway, and recreation safety throughout Coconino County, Deputies in the Flagstaff, Williams, Page Districts, officers conducted approximately 115 traffic stops resulting in: one Aggravated DUI arrest, 19 citations (including two for child restraint offenses, 3 seat belt offenses, several speed citations, and one Title 4 alcohol offense), 8 repair orders, 28 verbal warnings, and 21 written warnings.
Outdoor recreation being higher this time of year, we received over 25 emergency medical related calls, 18 fire related calls, and numerous other calls reporting shooting near public areas, disturbing the peace, large parties, and suspicious activity. Many of these calls were in campground areas or on public land. In an effort to help educate people about off-road, ATV, and boating safety, officers made contact with riders and boaters to ensure safety measures were being followed. We had four reports of off-road related injury accidents in the county.
There were 97 total bookings processed at the Flagstaff and Page Coconino County Detention Facility from May 22 (8:00 am) – May 25 (midnight). Bookings are processed for agencies including: Flagstaff Police Department, Page Police Department, Williams Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety as well as other law enforcement agencies in the county.
Bookings included:
3 Aggravated Assault
9 Assault
2 Court Remand
3 Criminal Damage
9 Drug Related
8 DUI
2 Aggravated DUI
2 Extreme DUI
22 FTA/FTC
1 Speed
1 Forgery
5 Liquor Violations
2 License Suspended/Revoked
1 Probation Violation
8 Disorderly Conduct
6 Theft
1 Threat/Intimidating
4 Trespass
3 Warrant
5 Other
Other Calls:
Other events over the weekend included assisting Flagstaff Police Department in response to an armed robbery on May 22. (S15-01931)
Deputies assisted Arizona Department of Public Safety at several vehicle crashes on highways in the county.
Deputies responded to several reports of graffiti in the Mountain Del area over the weekend.
Fire Related Calls:
In addition to responding to several reports of abandoned campfires, large campfires or other fire concerns throughout the weekend, officers responded to the Antelope Hills area off of Hwy 89N on May 23 for a burn on private property that had spread to neighboring lands. A citation was issued for reckless burning.
Search and Rescue Related Calls:
On May 25 around 10:00 am, we received a report of a 10 year old and 11 year old boy who were missing from their campsite in the Chevelon Lake area of Forest Lakes. The boys were located and in good health.
On May 25 around 5:00 pm, we received a report of an adult male and female who were hiking on Humphreys Peak and had become lost.
Other Reports:
During the weekend, we also responded to three natural deaths and one suicide.
The natural deaths involved a 59 year old male resident of Phoenix, AZ who suffered a heart attack while at Mormon Lake, a 71 year female who had been under hospice care in the greater Flagstaff area, and an 85 year old male resident of the Forest Lakes area.
The report of suicide occurred in the area near Knoll Lake (Forest Lakes area) and was reported as a male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was identified as a 31 year old male from Gilbert, AZ. The suicide is under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and each of these deaths also will be reviewed by the medical examiner’s office.