Monthly Archives: September 2015

Drug drop-off at Flagstaff Police department on Sawmill road

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FLAGSTAFF — On September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Flagstaff Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its tenth opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring you pills for disposal to the Flagstaff Police Department/Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 911 Sawmill Road. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills and/or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons (over 617,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,5000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million pounds—more than 2,4000 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the September 26 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control site or Sgt. Bentzen with the Flagstaff Police Department at 556-2300/mbentzen@coconino.az.gov.

Monsoons won’t quit, but fall is in the trees

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15-09-08-07WILLIAMS — Seems that the monsoon season won’t give up as Williams, Flagstaff and the surrounding areas continue to receive thunderstorms. The weather is expected to clear up Friday and Saturday for at least a portion of the Brown’s Carnival event in Williams on Railroad Avenue.

Rain hit hard Monday and this afternoon beginning about 1:30 p.m. and running for more than an hour. The chance of continued thunderstorms runs about 20% for Flagstaff and Williams through tomorrow. It is expected to clear Friday through Saturday during the day. The chance of thunderstorms picks up again Saturday night and on to the beginning of next week.

The last two storms brought more rain that the storm of last week, but much less thunder and lightning.

Trees in Williams, however, are starting to show the strains of fall which begins “officially” on September 23. The aspens and oaks along South Road, the road to Dogtown, FR-111 to Bill Williams Mountain and other areas of the forest will start turning soon providing great photo ops for fans of autumn.

Labor Day Weekend 2015 Busy with Search and Rescue Events in Coconino County

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This Labor Day weekend proved extremely busy for Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies and Search and Rescue. There were at least 11 search and rescue events logging over 35 hours of response time. The 35 hours represents only the time from start of the calls to resolution and does not include the collective time of multiple responders. Several events required call out of Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and personnel from assisting agencies such as US Forest Service (USFS) and the AZ Department of Public Safety (DPS). Many of the individuals were residents from outside of Coconino County who were visiting the area for outdoor recreation activities during the holiday weekend. Below is a summary of the events with additional information on assisting agencies.

Friday, September 4, 2015

At 12:48 pm we received a call that an 18 year old male subject exited a vehicle in Oak Creek Canyon and ran into the woods. The subject had made earlier statements in the day indicating that he may be suicidal. Deputies searched area business, trailheads and roads looking for the individual. DPS, Cottonwood Police Department and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office also were given a description of the individual and asked for their assistance in attempting to locate him. After an extensive search, the subject was located after a citizen reported seeing him walking along State Route 89A.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

At 11:54 am we received a report of a 64 year old male and 6 year old female who were overdue from an ATV ride off of FS169 in the Forest Lakes area. Responders included CCSO, USFS, DPS Air Rescue, Forest Lakes Fire Department, and Coconino Sheriff’s SAR. The subjects were located by DPS Air Rescue at 4:18 pm, and ground units were guided to their location which was approximately 0.36 miles south of the camp. The subjects were then led by ground units to their camp. Neither subject was injured.

At 7:11 pm we received a report of a 59 year old male hiker on Humphreys Trail who was overdue. The overdue subject intentionally separated from his son at approximately 5:30 as he was hiking slowly. When he did not arrive at the vehicle as expected, the hiking partner called 911 to report him overdue. Thunderstorms were active in the area. Sheriff’s Office responders were assisted by volunteers from the SAR Unit and DPS Air Rescue. Deputies began the search by checking the trail heads and along the trail to the wilderness boundary. During a break in the weather DPS Air Rescue was able to fly over the area and located the subject at about 10:20 pm. He was off trail in the Snowbowl Ski Area approximately 0.9 miles east of the trail head. SAR personnel hiked to his location and escorted him out to the trail head. He did not request any medical treatment and was reunited with his son.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

At 1:26 pm we received a report of a male subject who was injured while riding an ATV in Pink Bowl which is located in the Cinder Hills OHV area. The injured subject was later pronounced deceased. Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene of the accident and SAR units responded to assist with recovering the body of the deceased.

At 3:18 pm we received a report of a 50 year old male who was stranded off the AB Young Trail in Oak Creek Canyon. Cell contact with the individual revealed he was not in need of medical attention but was unable to navigate the terrain. Due to the difficulty in locating the subject who was off trail the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) helicopter and the DPS Air Rescue helicopter from Kingman responded to assist. SAR units were prepared to hike from East Pocket end of the trail to attempt to locate and assist the subject while Sedona Fire units hiked from Bootlegger Day Use Area end of the trail. By around 7:00 pm the YCSO helicopter crew had located the subject and guided searchers to his location. Rescue efforts required use of a rope hand line to stabilize the individual as he was assisted down the canyon walls back to the trail. DPS Ranger also assisted by providing light along the trail as rescuers escorted the individual back to the trailhead. He was evaluated by medics and refused medical treatment. The subject was then reunited with his family.

At 7:00 pm we received a report of a male subject who had been gone from his family campsite for over three hours. The subject was on his dirt bike riding in the Cinder Hills OHV area. Deputies patrolled the area looking for the overdue person. The subject later made his way to Leupp Road where he used someone’s phone to contact his family and advise them of his location.

Monday, September 7, 2015

At 1:15 am a deputy patrolling the Mormon Lake area received a report of two women who were overdue in returning to their campsite after taking a ride from two unknown subjects on a UTV. The reporting party also called the information into dispatch. Deputies patrolled forest service roads and when following up with the reporting party learned that the two women had returned safely.

At 12:00 pm DPS Air Rescue in Flagstaff requested a CCSO-SAR helicopter rescue technician to assist Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with a technical rescue of an injured climber on Granite Mountain in the Prescott area. The climber was rescued and transported to the hospital for treatment.

At 12:42 pm we received a report of a 10 year old and a young adult overdue from an ATV ride near their campsite off of FS124 in the Mormon Lake area. The other people at the campsite had located the ATV but the subjects were not with it. The Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from USFS (both law enforcement and fire personnel), SAR, and DPS to conduct a search by ground and air. At 3:21 pm DPS Air Rescue from Phoenix located the subjects in good condition approximately one mile east of their camp site. Ground personnel were guided to the location and transported both subjects back to camp. Neither subject required medical attention.

At 12:51 pm we received a report from a woman that her husband and two children, a 7 year old and a 3-1/2, were overdue from a hike on the Kachina Trail. Deputies and SAR units responded and located the subjects on the Kachina Trail. Rescuers assisted them to a vehicle and drove them to the trail head at Snowbowl where they were reunited with family members.

At 3:50 pm we received a report that a male and female were overdue from their campsite near the Lava Tubes. Deputies patrolled forest service roads in the area. Approximately an hour later the reporting party called to advise that both people had returned to the camp safely.

Overnight paving on US 89 at Haul Road in Page, Tonight and Wednesday

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PAGE — An overnight closure of US 89 at Haul Road will be required from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 8) and Wednesday (Sept. 9) to allow for paving at the roundabout.

During the overnight closure, travel along US 89 will be detoured using Coppermine Road and Lake Powell Boulevard. Flaggers and signs will direct drivers through the detour. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the detour with caution and observe reduced speeds during travel.

The new roundabout intersection is anticipated to be completed in early fall.

Drone Munition developer on air with Gianluca Zanna

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IMG_3317-300x169KINGMAN — American patriot radio host Gianluca Zanna discussed Drone Munition with Casey Betzold, president of Snake River Shooting Products in Emmett, Idaho. Drone Munition has made the round of the news, lately, but Casey and Gianluca stressed complying with federal and State laws and regulations.

Both assured listeners that they are not anti-drone. Casey said they use drones to get video on the range that would otherwise be hazardous. Luca said that he uses his drone to take video of his own property and animals.

The shotgun round was developed for a sporting application initially. It was designed to use on a range where aerial drone targets are specifically used as targets to be shot down. Casey said that they concentrated on making a law enforcement quality shell that has a very tight pattern and spent a lot of money on the steel shot that goes into the shell.

Casey noted that because of his Air Force background, he was concerned with the security, but currently there are no regulations preventing invasion of privacy by drones. In addition all States have regulations against discharging firearms within a neighborhood.

“We think the regulations are coming for drones, with regards to privacy concerns. The same as if a peeping Tom walked up into your yard and looked into your window at night; that’s against the law. But right now, if a drone does the same thing, it’s not against the law,” Casey said.

He indicated that he is glad that the news and controversy over the shotgun ammunition is generating a conversation about the issue. While it is illegal, currently, to shoot down a drone even in wilderness areas, he said that self-defense may be applicable.

“Now if the drone is causing a self-defense concern, then there is a legal application to this; to defend yourself the same as if a person is threatening you.”


The full show at Love, Guns and Freedom also has a discussion with Blaine Cooper from Prescott who has been investigating abuse of homeless veterans in Phoenix. He discusses the possibility of an economic crash with reporter Lisa Haven and a discussion of ozone therapy with Dr. Robert Rowen.

Flagstaff Police Department investigating burglary at Cal Ranch store

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Suspects in Cal Ranch theft. Flagstaff Police photo.

Suspects in Cal Ranch theft. Flagstaff Police photo.

Flagstaff — On Saturday, September 5, 2015 at approximately 07:49 a.m., the Flagstaff Police Department responded to a burglary which occurred at the Cal Ranch Store at 2530 N. Fourth Street.

The above images are subjects wanted in questioning in this crime. Several weapons were taken during the break in. This investigation is ongoing and further information will be forthcoming.

If you have any information regarding the identity of the above subject please contact Detective Rucker at 928 679 4099.

If you have any information regarding this felony crime and do not want to leave your name, please call SILENT WITNESS at 928 774-6111.
FPD 15-13058

Martin Milner dies at age 83

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milner_nMartin Milner best known for the roles of Corvette owner Tod Stiles in the television series Route 66 and stone-faced police veteran Pete Malloy in Adam-12 passed away at the age of 83. The communication office of the LA Police Department issued an Instagram which stated, “Pete Malloy, you are end of watch.”
martin-milner-instragram
Milner started his career with a 1947 appearance in Life With Father. He went on to do roles in many World War II movies, such as Sands of Iwo Jima, Halls of Monezuma, Fighting Coast Guard and other television shows and movies. He even stood out in his minor role as a southern shore patrol officer in Mister Roberts.

I remember him for his movie The Private Lives of Adam and Eve. He also stared in the Irwin Allen production of Swiss Family Robinson and the short-lived television series of the same name.

It was his role of Tod Stiles in the 1960 to ’64 Route 66 that brought him the most fame during this period. My father told me that when he was working on the Glen Canyon Dam, the show was filming somewhere in Arizona. He and a friend passed by and the friend said something that the producer liked and paid his friend $50 to allow him to use it in the show. My father said that he wished he had said something—anything—at the same time.

He played the role of Stephen Banner in the Dragnet series of 1951 to 1959. He returned to his association with Jack Webb in the Dragnet which ran from 1967 to 1970. He played to role of officer Pete Malloy. That character did not rest, however, appearing in The D.A. series and the television series Emergency! while the television series Adam-12 was running from 1968 to 1975.

His last role was Detective Halloran in the mystery television series Diagnosis Murder staring Dick Van Dyke. But he continued to draw fans and autograph seekers as this YouTube video at an event in Chicago in 1996 shows.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study now available for public review and comment

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration, has released the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study: Tucson to Phoenix. While the proposed passenger rail project has no identified funding, this environmental impact statement is a step closer to identifying the cost, impacts and benefits from a rail system serving passengers in Arizona.

The Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement is part of federally required review process, governed by the National Environmental Policy Act, which provides the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the document, along with the recommended alternative. ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study is part of the department’s long-range plan to determine which transportation options will best meet the demands for future growth and travel to complement Interstate 10, one of the busiest highways in Arizona.

The Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement is available for download at azdot.gov/passengerrail. Printed copies are also available for review at these locations through Oct. 30:

  • ADOT, Research Center Library; 206 S. 17th Ave., Phoenix, 85007
  • Phoenix Public Library, Burton Barr; 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 85004
  • Chandler Public Library, Downtown Branch; 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler, 85225
  • Gilbert Maricopa County Library District, Southeast Regional Library; 775 N. Greenfield Road, Gilbert, 85234
  • Pima Community College, Northwest Campus Library; 7600 N. Shannon Road, Tucson, 85709

    • Central Arizona College, Signal Peak Campus Library; 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, 85128

ADOT has scheduled three public hearings for community members to attend and provide comments. A video summarizing the studies will be shown at all three public hearings and members of the rail study team will be available to answer questions. Public hearings will be held:

  • Sept. 15: 5:30 to 7 p.m. — Phoenix Public Library, Burton Barr (1st Floor Pulliam Auditorium); 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 85004
  • Sept. 16: 5:30 to 7 p.m. — Tucson Convention Center (Leo Rich Theater); 260 S. Church Ave., Tucson, 85701
  • Sept. 17: 5:30 to 7 p.m. — Central Arizona College, Signal Peak Campus (Room M101); 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, 85128

The deadline for all public comments is Oct. 30, 2015. Comments may be provided at one of the hearings, submitted via the ADOT website at www.azdot.gov/passengerrail, emailed to projects@azdot.gov, or mailed or faxed to:

ADOT Passenger Rail Study Team
24 W. Camelback Rd., Suite 479
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Fax: (602) 368-9645

The Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement considers two rail alternatives and a no-build option in order to identify the most appropriate corridor for a potential passenger rail line between Tucson and Phoenix.

The Yellow Alternative would serve East Valley communities and central Pinal County, and could share right of way with Union Pacific Railroad north of Eloy, where appropriate. The Orange Alternative would serve East Valley population centers and share part of its alignment with the planned North-South Freeway Corridor in Pinal County. The two alternatives would run primarily within the I-10 corridor between Eloy and Tucson.

Under the No-Build Alternative, no passenger rail system would be constructed between Tucson and Phoenix. The No-Build Alternative assumes that all proposed highway projects currently funded within the study corridor would be built to provide enhanced capacity for Interstate 10 and the surrounding region.

Along with the alternatives, ADOT has identified general locations for stations along the passenger rail line. The route between Tucson and Phoenix is recommended as a blended service to include an express intercity service that would have few stops between the two metropolitan areas and a local commuter service that would potentially stop at all stations within the corridor. The corridors include system hubs located near downtown Phoenix and downtown Tucson. Both include extensions beyond the system hubs: to the west Phoenix metropolitan area and to Tucson International Airport. However, these extensions are not part of the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, but are compatible with the recommendations. The passenger rail line also proposes to serve Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

By the end of this study, a Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement will be published and one rail corridor or the No-Build Alternative will be selected. Once the public comment period concludes on Oct. 30, the rail study team will compile and review all comments and work with our federal partners to develop a Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. This document will contain a preferred alternative and is expected to be complete by the end of this year, along with a Service Development Plan. The Service Development Plan will include infrastructure and operation plans, an implementation plan, demand and revenue forecasts, capital programming, and operation and maintenance costs of a potential passenger rail system.

Additional future environmental work and site-specific studies would be required before a rail system could be constructed. There is currently no construction schedule and there is no funding identified for future rail studies or to build and maintain a rail system. It will be up to the public, stakeholders and policymakers to decide how the project should move forward and how to generate the funding to pay for it.

Paving complete on SR 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY — Paving is complete at the new roundabout on State Route 89 at Road 4 North in Chino Valley. However, drivers can expect intermittent lane restrictions approaching the roundabout as miscellaneous work is completed over the next four weeks.

Drivers are encouraged to be alert for construction equipment and personnel through the work zone.

This $2.1 million project consists of a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Road 4 North near milepost 331. Additional work includes removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

Unlicensed Vehicle Dealers Create Problems for Unsuspecting Buyers

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PHOENIX — Motor vehicles are sold in Arizona primarily through dealers licensed by the state, by private parties and unfortunately illegally by unlicensed dealers. The Arizona Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General investigates the illegal sale of vehicles and has conducted more than 250 investigations this year into the fraudulent activities. Approximately 15 percent of those cases involved investigations into vehicles sold by unlicensed dealers.

Vehicle purchases from unlicensed dealers don’t have the same protections of state law should problems occur with the sale. Problems may range from the seller not providing the vehicle title, the vehicle has a rolled-back odometer, or the seller is not the owner or not legally able to sell the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle may be recorded as stolen or possess a fictitious vehicle identification number – both situations which will prevent the buyer from transferring ownership into their name. Also, the vehicle may be in need of expensive repair work not disclosed at the time of sale.

An unlicensed dealer is someone who ADOT has reasonable cause to believe is engaged in the business of selling motor vehicles without being licensed as required by state statute. According to Arizona law, an individual may sell only up to six vehicles in a continuous 12-month time period without a dealer’s license.

A licensed new, used or public consignment auction motor vehicle dealer is authorized by Arizona law to buy, sell or auction motor vehicles as its regular business. There are some protections by law for buyers who purchase vehicles sold by licensed dealers. Individuals can check the Dealer Licensing Services section of the ADOT website, azdot.gov, to learn if a business or individual is a licensed dealer.

The ADOT Office of the Inspector General recently completed some major investigations involving unlicensed dealers. Those cases have been sent forward to the ADOT Executive Hearing Office requesting enforcement action and civil penalties against the unlicensed dealers. The cases involved approximately two months of investigation which uncovered 23 motor vehicles that were illegally sold. The suspects in these cases were assessed administrative civil penalties by the ADOT Executive Hearing Office in the amount of $12,000. According to state statute, a civil penalty of at least $1,000 but not more than $3,000 may be imposed per violation and the violator shall be required to pay all transaction privilege taxes on all illegal motor vehicle sales.

Detectives with the ADOT Office of the Inspector General conduct criminal and administrative investigations relating to criminal forgery; identity theft; fraudulent activities involving state-issued motor vehicle title/registration documents and driver licenses; stolen vehicles; and transactions conducted by licensed and unlicensed car dealers. Additionally, detectives provide a multitude of investigative support services to law enforcement agencies statewide, nationally and internationally.

The ADOT Executive Hearing Office is a branch of the ADOT Office of the Director, and conducts independent administrative hearings regarding activities outlined in the Arizona Administrative Code Title 17 and the Arizona Revised Statutes. One of those functions is to rule on civil actions against alleged unlicensed vehicle sales.