Daily Archives: October 20, 2015

Multiple Search and Rescue Responses during the Past Weekend

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FLAGSTAFF — On October 16th at approximately 6:00 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to a report of an overdue hunter in the Cataract Canyon area off of Espee Road. The adult male hunter from Surprise, AZ was last seen by the rest of his party at 3:00 PM and became separated when a strong thunderstorm moved in to the area reducing visibility. The hunting party conducted their own search until about 6:00 PM when they decided to call for help.

The missing hunter had a medical condition and a lack of clothing and equipment that raised the level of concern for the Sheriff’s Office. A ground search was initiated with deputies, officers from Arizona Game and Fish, and Search and Rescue. In the morning hours of October 17th the weather improved enough to allow for air search operations with the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Unit from Kingman.

At approximately 7:30 AM a deputy conducting a containment patrol on Espee Road located the hunter in good condition and transported him to the incident command post where he was interviewed and then reunited with his hunting party.

While the search on Espee Road was getting underway Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue also responded to a report of a lost hiker on the Humphrey’s Peak Trail. The adult female subject from Kentucky called 911 indicating that she was lost and got off trail while descending the trail. A deputy and a US Forest Service Officer hiked up the trail and made voice contact and then physical contact with the subject at 8:10 PM. SAR personnel responded to the area and drove a UTV up one of the Arizona Snowbowl catwalks to get close to the trail. The subject and the rescuers then met and all were transported down to the trailhead.

During both operations the weather was poor with rain, thunderstorms, and cool conditions. It is important that outdoor recreationists pay attention to the weather forecast and carry appropriate equipment for the conditions.

At a minimum those recreating in the outdoors should carry the Ten Essentials which include: water, food, extra warm clothing, navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS), headlamp/flashlight (and extra batteries), first aid kit, shelter material (space blanket/large leaf bag), fire starting kit or backpacking stove, pocket knife/multi-tool, and whistle/signal mirror.

A cell phone is also a very helpful emergency tool but should not be totally relied upon. These items will help keep individuals comfortable during an emergency and also aid rescuers in locating them.

Sheriff’s office to hold Community Emergency Response Team Training

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Sheriff-Patch005FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s office will be hosting Community Emergency Response Team Training in Flagstaff at the Search and Rescue Training Facility, 911 E. Sawmill Road. This free of charge and open to all citizens.

The course will run from Tuesday October 27 to Thursday October 29. On Tuesday and Wednesday the course will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. concluding Thursday at noon.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs. Classes include:

  • Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
  • Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION
  • Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I
  • Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART II
  • Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
  • Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION
  • Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION

Citizens desiring more information or to register for the class can call Deputy Gerry Blair at 928-266-5089

Sponsored by:
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Bill Pribil, Sheriff
Coconino County Emergency Management

Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Multiple Parties in Wooded Areas

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies have seen an increase in the occurrence of “secret” underage alcohol parties occurring in unimproved wooded areas throughout Coconino County. These “Woods Parties” as they are often referred to by the participants can be very hazardous and at times life threatening to underage party goers.

Deputies have seen numerous underage subjects who are intoxicated to the level they can no longer make rational decisions and are not able to protect themselves from predatory adults who also frequent these events. Deputies have also seen a significant increase in the number of individuals present who are in possession of firearms.

Sheriff Bill Pribil would like to remind parents that it is imperative to know where your children are, what they are doing and who they are with. It is advisable for parents to talk to their children about underage parties and all the dangers associated with them. Crimes associated with underage parties include illegal consumption of alcohol, illegal possession and use of controlled substances and drugs, serious assaults, sexual assaults, DUI, serious motor vehicle collisions, and weapons misconduct.

On October 4, 2015 Sheriff’s dispatchers received an anonymous Crime Stop Call reporting a large underage “Woods Party” in the area of School House Draw with a large number of attendees. The caller also advised of multiple physical fights involving intoxicated party goers.

A Sheriff’s sergeant who was supervising the deputies assigned to the Flagstaff Patrol Division coordinated a response consisting of himself and two deputies. As the responding deputies approached the intersection of Forest Service roads 762 and 867 they observed a large bonfire with numerous vehicles parked around it. As the deputies approached a large gathering of people they saw numerous subjects run or stagger into a tree line located south east of the group’s location.

The sergeant went from vehicle to vehicle checking each one for occupants. He observed a maroon Chevrolet Suburban with the front passenger door wide open. He observed a male in the driver’s seat who was passed out and slumping over with his head resting on the steering wheel. The sergeant attempted to wake the subject and advised him to get out of the vehicle to which he responded by threatening to kill him and telling the sergeant he was going to die. The sergeant removed the subject from his vehicle.

While this occurred, another member of a group of approximately 25-30 people who had gathered to the watch the interaction, began to agitate the crowd with negative comments regarding this presence of the Sheriff’s Office. The sergeant was able to remove the subject from the vehicle, the subject resisted and a physical fight resulted. He forced the intoxicated subject to the ground and the struggle continued. At one point the sergeant observed a semi-automatic pistol stuffed in the subject’s waist band. He disarmed the subject and was eventually able to restrain him.

The sergeant yelled at the crowd for anyone else who was armed with a gun to separate themselves from the large group and walk to the north of where they were. Five other armed subjects complied by leaving the group and complied with being disarmed by other deputies on scene. In total six firearms were collected from various individuals in attendance at the party.

The subject who resisted the sergeant was arrested for Threatening and Intimidating, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and later the charge of Resisting Arrest was added by the County Attorney’s Office.

The other subject in the crowd that was agitating the large group was arrested and charged with Minor Consumption of Alcohol and an arrest warrant that was not related to the incident. Deputies also identified several minors, persons under the age of 18, and provided courtesy rides for them back to their parents/guardians residence to turn them back to their custody.

Utility work on State Route 89 in Prescott scheduled tomorrow morning

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CHINO VALLEY — State Route 89, at milepost 309, near Hidden Valley Road in Prescott will be restricted to one lane tomorrow, Oct. 21 between 8 a.m. 9:30 a.m. for utility work. Drivers can expect minimal delays during work hours.

The closures will provide a safe work zone as APS crew’s trim vegetation around power lines.

ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Law enforcement personnel will be present to enforce the closures as they occur.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.

Another early morning pedestrian fatality in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — On October 20, 2015 at approximately 00:23 hrs., Officers were called to the area of the underpass, and Route 66 in regards to an intoxicated man walking in the middle of the roadway in the east bound lanes. While Officers were on their way to the area, another call came into dispatch indicating a collision had occurred with a driver and the same pedestrian at Leroux and Route 66.

When Officers arrived they located a subject wearing a gray sweater lying face up in the roadway, unresponsive. The pedestrian was approximately 15-20 feet behind the vehicle which struck him.

Several witnesses contacted at the scene described the pedestrian as walking in the east bound lanes, with his hands up from his sides. One witness stated he had been driving in the westbound lanes, and flashed his lights at the pedestrian and honked his horn at him, prior to the collision.

The driver of the vehicle indicated he never saw the pedestrian until he was directly in front of him. The driver of the vehicle cooperated completely with the investigation and no indications of impairment were noted at the time of contact. The Flagstaff Police Departments collision reconstruction team was called to the scene, to continue the investigation.

This investigation is pending identification and next of kin notification. Further information regarding the pedestrian’s identity will be forthcoming, as he did not have any ID on him and appears to be approximately 30 years old.

South Zone fire managers to conduct pile burns after wet weather

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts will be completing pile burns across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest. Recent weather conditions have not proven to be conducive for larger-scale prescribed fire treatments, but are appropriate for piles located across the forest. The pile burns remove fuel sources from the forest, to reduce the impact and intensity of future wildfires.

Tusayan Ranger District: Fire crews will treat 226 acres throughout the week just to the west of the Grand Canyon Airport, south of Forest Road 2617, and on both the east and west sides of Forest Road 2607. Smoke impact to Tusayan are expected to be minimal.

Williams Ranger District: Fire crews will be treating small groups of piles across the district over the week. Due to the limited number of piles that are expected to be treated, there are no predicted smoke impacts to Williams.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional information, photos and maps are available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/ and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Two arrested in Flagstaff for crime spree

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Flag151020-1FLAGSTAFF — On October 17, 2015 at approximately 1300 hrs., Jonathan J. Curley (44yrs) and Tico C. Teller (23yres) were arrested in connection with a crime spree which included theft of a credit card, auto burglaries, and theft of a vehicle.

Officers had been called to a series of auto burglaries in the 2000 block of N. Center, the 1800 block of N. West, and the 2100 block of N. East. One victim reported a weapon being taken from their vehicle. During this investigation another victim contacted the police department describing his stolen credit card being used fraudulently at 2650 E. Rt. 66.

When officers arrived at the hotel located at 2650 E. Rt. 66, they were advised by the motel staff the room had been rented using the victim’s credit card. Officers contacted the subjects in the room, identifying them as Jonathan J. Curley and Tico Cody Teller. Curley was in possession of a hand gun which was identified as property taken from one of the vehicle burglaries as well as other evidence implicating him in the series of thefts. Tico Cody Teller was arrested on a felony probation warrant.

Curley was arrested and transported to the Coconino County jail and charged with burglary, theft of a credit card, fraudulent use of a credit card and a prohibited possessor. Teller was charged with a probation violation. This investigation is continuing and further charges may be forthcoming.

If you have any information regarding these crimes please contact Detective Slayton at 928 679-4104. If you have any information on any felony crime and do not want to leave your name, please contact SILENT WITNESS at 928 774-6111.

Public Comment for West Pinal Moderate PM10 nonattainment

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) opens a 30-day public comment period with the publication of this notice on October 19, 2015, for the proposed 2015 West Pinal Moderate PM10 Nonattainment Area State Implementation Plan. The plan demonstrates that the West Pinal PM10 planning area will meet the 1987 health and welfare based 24-hour PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by December 2018.

A public hearing on the proposed attainment plan will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the Maricopa Agricultural Center Multipurpose Room, 37860 W. Smith-Enke Rd., Maricopa, AZ 85138. All interested parties will be given an opportunity at the public hearing to submit verbal and written comments. To request an auxiliary aid or service for accessible communication, contact Alicia Pollard, Human Resources Assistant, at (602) 771-4791 or aap@azdeq.gov, or dial 7-1-1 for TTY/TTD Services.

Copies of the proposal are available for review Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 771-4712. A copy of the proposal can also be viewed at the Pinal County Air Quality Department, 31 N. Pinal Street, Bldg. F, Florence, AZ 85132, (520) 866-6929, or online at http://www.azdeq.gov/ by selecting Public Notices, Meetings, and Hearings.

Written comments may be mailed to Catherine Lucke-McDowell, Air Quality Division, State Implementation Plan Section, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, faxed to (602) 771-2366, or e-mailed to Lucke-McDowell.Catherine@azdeq.gov. Mailed comments must state the name and mailing address of the person; be signed by the person, their agent, or attorney; and clearly set forth reasons why this proposed attainment plan should or should not be finalized. Grounds for comment are limited to whether or not this proposed attainment plan meets the criteria spelled out in federal air pollution control laws and/or rules.

Comments must be received by ADEQ no later than November 19, 2015, by 5:00 p.m. or submitted at the public hearing. This proposed attainment plan will be submitted to the U.S. EPA following consideration of all comments received during the public comment period and hearing.

Trinity Tactical offers rifle course

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firearms-trainingPHOENIX — Trinity Tactical Applications is hosting a Tactical Carbine Fundamentals firearm course on November 11 from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. The course will be held at the Game and Fish Ben Avery Shooting Facility located at 4044 W. Black Canyon Boulevard.

The $80 course requires no prerequisite training, but does, of course, require your own ammunition and weapon.

According to the flier:

This course will improve your proficiency utilizing your rifle in practical applications; whether it be on duty, in the general public, or defending your home. We will cover shooting fundamentals, threat engagement, firing from realistic positions one can expect to encounter, reloading, clearing malfunctions, and engaging while moving, along with other real-world considerations. Taught by certified rifle instructors with real world experience employing a carbine in hostile environments, this course will expose students to the realities of utilizing a rifle in a variety of situations.

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