Monthly Archives: July 2015

Deputies and Detectives Investigate Suspicious Death

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, July 19, 2015 at about 10:08 am the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) advising that Flagstaff Police Department Officers (FPD) and DPS Officers were in pursuit of an adult female who was driving erratically initially on Highway 89 then North on Highway 180/Fort Valley Road with the pursuit entering several neighborhoods.

According to DPS they received a call from an individual who had been called by the driver of the pursued vehicle. According to the caller, the driver’s sister was deceased and her whereabouts were unknown.

Eventually the female driver stopped the vehicle in the Cheshire Neighborhood and was taken into custody by Flagstaff Police Officers.

Deputies responded to the driver’s residence located in Alpine Ranchos and found a 63 year-old female deceased outside the residence. At this point in the investigation, Detectives believe the victim died as a result of self-inflected injuries.

This investigation is be continued by the Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Natural Dog Company, Inc. Recalls 12″ Tremenda Sticks

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250tremenda455548 Windsor, CO – The Natural Dog Company, Inc. of Windsor, CO, is recalling its 12oz bags of 12″ Tremenda Sticks pet chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recalled 12″ Tremenda Sticks were distributed to retail stores in CA, CO, FL, IL, MO MT, NC, OH UT and WA.

The recalled product comes in a 12oz bag without a lot number or expiration date with UPC number: 851265004957. Products with new packaging, which includes both a lot number and expiration date but the same UPC are not affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after a Colorado Department of Agriculture inspection of the product revealed the presence of Salmonella in a sample taken from a 12oz package of 12″ Tremenda Sticks.

Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased 12oz packages of 12″ Tremenda Sticks should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-888-424-4602 – Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm MST.

ADEQ Awards $45,000 Brownfields Grant for Cleanup at Former Canyon Trading Post

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WILLIAMS — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $45,000 brownfields grant to Angel’s Corner, Inc. to remove asbestos and lead-based paint from the former Canyon Trading Post located at 5127 N. State Highway 64 in Coconino County. ADEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) will oversee this work.

The 1.45-acre former Canyon Trading Post site consists of five combined structures constructed between 1889 and 1991. Unoccupied for years and in a state of disrepair, this brownfields grant-funded environmental cleanup work is the next of several steps necessary to prepare the property for redevelopment that will emphasize meeting the needs of the community.

Brownfields are properties with active redevelopment potentially hindered by known or perceived environmental contamination. Since it began in 2003, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program has funded more than 50 projects assisting local governments and nonprofits in completing environmental assessments and cleanup. Currently accepting applications, ADEQ’s brownfields grant program conducts projects through Arizona’s State Response Grant using funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Recovering blighted properties by administering non-competitive grants through ADEQ’s brownfields program is just one way we accomplish environmentally responsible economic growth in our state,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said. “Our staff works diligently with grant applicants to create customized solutions that maximize program benefits for each community’s unique needs.”

ADEQ’s VRP program allows property owners, prospective purchasers and other interested parties to work in cooperation with ADEQ to streamline investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites and obtain sign-off from all relevant ADEQ programs. ADEQ’s VRP successfully has completed more than 200 site closures since Arizona’s VRP laws came into effect in 2000.

Mason Fire reaches final size of 4,370 acres

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mason004aTUSYAN — The Mason Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has been contained after growing to 4,370 acres and providing multiple resource benefits since it started a few weeks ago.

The Mason Fire, located 7 miles southeast of Tusayan and 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower, was one of four lightning-caused wildfires being managed as part of the Jar Complex to achieve ecological and other resource and community protection objectives. The Old Fire eventually merged with the larger Mason Fire, while the Lost and Shale fires that were located just east of Highway 64 several miles south of Tusayan never grew larger than about an acre in size each due to persistent rain showers over their locations.

“The Lost and Shale fires were in an ideal location, and we hoped they would eventually pick up in activity so that fire could move across the landscape,” said Quentin Johnson, fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District and incident commander for the Jar Complex. “But it was the Mason Fire that ended up having the most growth potential, and we are pleased that it reached the size it did.”

The Mason Fire burned at low-to-moderate levels of intensity over the course of its existence and had effects fire managers said were important in enhancing wildlife habitat, reducing the potential for future high-intensity fires, and improving forest health conditions.

As noted by Bruce Hill, fire lookout at Red Butte and a valued member of the Tusayan Ranger District fire organization, the Mason Fire not only met resource objectives but did so without impacting visibility at Grand Canyon National Park, an accomplishment that is not always easy to achieve given the district’s location just south of the iconic canyon.

While smoke was visible at times from Desert View, Cameron, Tusayan and highways 64 and 180, impacts were short-lived and mostly isolated to light smoke sinking into low-lying areas south of Tusayan along Highway 64 in the early morning hours on a few days.

Johnson added that he was proud that fire was able to play its natural role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem and, that during its 22 days of spread, there were no injuries to fire fighters involved in its management.

The Mason and Old fires were both managed within a predefined 16,100-acre planning area. However, as the fires merged and then spread into sparser fuels, they naturally started dying out on their own. Then, significant precipitation associated with Hurricane Delores reached the Mason Fire over the weekend, putting it out almost entirely.

“For us, a planning area represents where we would be comfortable with and think the fire could eventually spread given the right conditions,” said Johnson. “It doesn’t mean it’s always going to get there, and that’s okay. We are allowing the fire to do what it would have naturally done historically. It would have been started by lightning during monsoon season, moved around for days or weeks, and then been put out by rain or by reaching natural landscape features. That’s exactly what happened with the Mason Fire. To me, that’s a success story.”

Two Male Juveniles Arrested for Doney Park Burglaries

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Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating two residential burglaries that occurred in the Doney Park Community. The first burglary occurred between the dates of July 4th, and 5th 2015 at a residence located on Rojo; the other one occurred sometime before July 2nd at a residence located on Marilee Lane. Investigators had no substantial information that would lead to the identity and possible arrest of a suspect or suspects.

On July 20, 2015 detectives were contacted by the parents of two teenage boys who also reside in the Doney Park Community. According to the concerned parents their sons were in the possession of a large amount of expensive items that did not belong to either of the boys or their parents.

With the parents’ permission Investigators contacted and interviewed both of the suspects. During the interview both boys made statements implicating themselves in the crimes. With the parents’ cooperation and assistance Investigators recovered numerous items that did not belong to either of the two suspects. Many of the items recovered were positively identified as being taken during the two previously described residential burglaries. Some of the recovered items are listed below.

· Seven firearms
· Laptop Computer
· Play Station with games
· Twenty-seven tactical or combat type long knives
· Three ammo boxes containing as many as a thousand rounds of ammunition

Both Juveniles were charged with 2 counts each of Residential Burglary and 2 counts each of Felony Theft and were booked into the Coconino County Juvenile Detention Facility. One of the two Juveniles was also charged with 1 count of Trafficking Stolen Property.

Investigators also recovered several items that did not belong to the Juveniles. However, there are no reports listing them as being taken in a burglary. One of these items is a large car speaker that is approximately 3’ in length and 1’ wide. The speaker was allegedly taken from a ministorage locker located in the Doney Park area.

Community members who are victims of burglaries or any other crimes and who live in rural unincorporated areas of the county are urged to report these crimes to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. Remember our investigators can’t recover your property if they don’t know its missing.

Memorial services for Larry Norfolk

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800-Rose-15-06-0504WILLIAMS — Memorial services for Larry Norfolk will be held at the Williams Senior Center on July 28 at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish for the services.

Larry passed away on July 9 sometime during the night of natural causes. St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church is arranging the memorial service.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to hold Banquet in Prescott

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Arizona Game & Fish photo

Arizona Game & Fish photo

PRESCOTT VALLEY— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will hold their Prescott Big Game Banquet on July 25th. The doors will open at the Prescott Valley Event Center, 3201 N Main St, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314. For tickets and information call 928-710-8988. You can purchase tickets online here.

The funds from the banquet and the other projects of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation benefit habitat preservation for elk and deer. The group activities include purchasing land, creating and preserving safe water tanks and other activities to ensure a safe habitat for the animals across North America.

The dinner is open to anyone interested in maintaining a healthy big game population.

Flagstaff Police make arrest in hoax calls to area schools

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flagstaff-policeFLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Police Department has made arrests in a series of threatening calls made to Flagstaff public schools beginning last march. Calls were made to the Thomas Elementary school and later to the Marshall and Knoles Elementary schools and Mount Elden Middle School. Police and FBI arrested 29-year-old Viktor Lisnyak of Staten Island.

Police detectives have been aggressively investigating the series of threats with the aide of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Detective Sergeant Ryan Beckman along with Detectives Adrian Barreras, and Casey Rucker worked on the investigation. This information was shared with the local FBI office and together a collective investigation commenced. Detectives Barreras and Rucker are cross deputized as special deputies through the FBI. This collaboration allowed the investigation to progress with the help of federal resources.

These combined investigations began in March when Thomas Elementary school received a threat from a computer generated type call indicating the caller was armed, suicidal, and near children. Other threatening calls were later received at Marshall Elementary, Knoles Elementary, and Mount Elden Middle School. All of these calls had certain details in common, and every threat was taken seriously. Flagstaff Unified School District employees as well as the Flagstaff Police Department remained vigilant in their emergency lock down responses.

The Flagstaff Police Department and the Flagstaff Unified School District met with concerned parents at the Flagstaff High School Gym on April 23, 2015 to assure the community of our continuing investigation and to answer any questions. Flagstaff Police Department personnel also met with school officials to rehearse strategies and review best practices on responding to these types of threats.

On July 15, 2015 Detectives Barreras and Rucker flew to New York accompanied by a FBI special agent. Upon arriving in Staten Island, they were able to make contact with Viktor Linsyak. Lisnyak admitted making threatening phone calls to Flagstaff schools.

Lisnyak was taken into custody, and is scheduled to appear in Arizona Federal court on July 29, 2015 on five counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 875 (c), which reads

Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Each one of these counts may result in a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There is a potential to obtain restitution for the emergency school responses and investigative costs of these calls.

Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway concluded, “We heard our communities concerns in regards to these shameful threats against our children and in April, the Flagstaff Police Department vowed to do our best to identify and apprehend the individual responsible. Our detectives have been working tirelessly since, and their tenacity paid off. We appreciate the close working relationship we have with the FBI and FUSD, relationships that were strengthened through this experience. I am happy our children, teachers and parents can be relieved of this burden as school begins this fall semester”.

US 89 restrictions starting Tuesday south of Gray Mountain for start of roadway widening and passing lane project

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FLAGSTAFF/CAMERON — Restrictions for both north- and southbound travel on US 89 just south of Gray Mountain between Flagstaff and Cameron (milepost 452 to 455) will begin daily, starting on Tuesday (July 21) to Saturday (July 25) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restriction will accommodate installation of temporary concrete barriers and shoulder work in preparation for a $2.8 million roadway improvement project.

The improvement project includes widening of US 89 through the project area, installation of a new passing lane for northbound travel, drainage extensions and new pavement resurfacing. This project is scheduled to be constructed in two phases, with the first phase to be completed mid-December, 2015.

During this phase of construction, lane restrictions can be anticipated, however one lane of travel in both directions will be allowed during most of the construction schedule. Please observe reduced speed limits and allow for extra travel time while traveling through the work zone.

US 89 narrowed to one lane between Arizona/Utah border and south of US 89A Junction at Bitter Springs beginning Tuesday

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US 89 will be narrowed to one lane with alternating access for both directions between the Arizona/Utah state line to just south of the Bitter Springs Junction at US 89A (milepost 556 to 517) from Tuesday (July 21) to Friday (July 22) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restriction is required to allow Arizona Department of Transportation crews to install pavement markers on the roadway.

During installation, delays of up to 15 minutes can be anticipated. A pilot car will allow for alternating travel through the work zone. Please allow for extra travel time during construction and be alert while traveling through the work zone.