SEDONA – There will be a meeting concerning the Slide Rock fire held today a 4 pm at the Sedona High School, Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd.
Category Archives: Coconino County
Sheriff’s Deputies investigate murder of Flagstaff Man
FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating the murder of 56 year-old David Allen Christine of Flagstaff, AZ. Mr. Christine’s body was located by a passing motorist near Star School located on Leupp Road.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at about 5:30 a.m. the Flagstaff Police Department/Coconino County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a motorist who was traveling on Leupp Road (Forrest Service 505). According to the reporting party, he was in the area located just east of Star School when he observed what he believed to be a body off of the roadway in the dirt.
Deputies arrived to find a Guardian Medical Transport team was already on scene. The subject was found to be deceased. During the initial investigation a detective who was at the scene observed indications of foul play. After the scene was processed and photographed, the victim was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff.
There were no forms of identification on the victim, and detectives received information causing them to believe the individual frequented several homeless shelters in Flagstaff. Investigators interviewed multiple clients of several homeless centers in Flagstaff in an attempt to identify the victim but met with no results.
Fingerprints were taken from the deceased and with the assistance of the United States Marshals Office the prints were submitted to a federal forensic laboratory that provides results in a short period of time. The results of the fingerprint analysis identified the body to be that of 56 year-old David Allen Christine of Flagstaff. Subsequently Flagstaff Police Officers located a white Plymouth mini-van registered to the victim parked outside a local motel.
The victim is described as a white male, 56 years of age, 5’11” in height, weighing approximately 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing black Levi pants, black shoes, a beige
t-shirt, and a blue Columbia polar fleece jacket.
Manner of death will be determined during the examination conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Garland Prairie Road “Bootlegger” railroad crossing to be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow
FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County was notified today by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) that the “Bootlegger” railway crossing located on Garland Prairie Road about four miles east of Williams will be closed in both directions from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 8.
This closure is necessary for BNSF crews to repair and replace crossing planks and conduct rail maintenance work along several hundred feet of eastbound and westbound track.
Located between Parks and Williams and south of Interstate 40, the Bootlegger railway crossing provides access along Garland Prairie Road/Forest Service Road 146 between the Woods residential subdivision to the south and I-40.
During this closure, commuters between I-40 and the Woods subdivision will need to detour along Garland Prairie Road for approximately 19 miles. Please see the attached map for more information on this detour route.
Although this closure is exclusively related to a BNSF project, Coconino County Public Works is working with BNSF to notify local schools and first responders. Also, BNSF is placing a message board to alert motorists about this closure.
If you have any questions or require additional information about this project, then please contact Joe Pointer with BNSF at 928-241-0669.
Candidate Filing Opens For Aug. 26 Primary Election
FLAGSTAFF – The 2014 election season has begun with 10 county elected offices up for grabs within Coconino County. Those offices include:
•Clerk to the Superior Court
•Constable – Flagstaff
•Superintendent of Schools (two-year term)
•Justice of the Peace – Flagstaff, Fredonia, Page and Williams
•Superior Court Judge- Divisions I, II and IV
The candidate filing period is now open. The deadline to file nomination petitions and paperwork to be a candidate is 5 p.m. May 28.
Declared partisan candidates will be listed on the August 26 Primary Election ballot. Primary winners and those running unopposed will then have their names placed on the November 4 General Election ballot.
Candidates running as an Arizona Revised Statute 16-341 candidate (nominated other than by primary) will only appear on the November 4 General Election ballot.
Non-partisan offices, such as school district governing boards, fire, water, sanitary and other special district board member seats will only appear on the November 4 ballot. These candidates have a different filing period.
For information about running for a seat on a school or community college governing board, contact the County Superintendent of Schools Office at 928-679-8070.
Those interested in becoming a candidate for an elected office within the County should visit the Coconino County Elections Office at 110 East Cherry Avenue in Flagstaff or call 928-679-7860 or 800-793-6181. Information is also available online at www.coconino.az.gov/elections. Click on “2014 Candidate Filing Information.”
County Board of Supervisors Approves Ordinance Regulating Use of Devices While Driving
FLAGSTAFF — Culminating multiple years of research and several months of deliberations, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that aims to curb distracted driving within the County.
On Tuesday, the Board unanimously passed County Ordinance 2014-03: Regulation of Portable Communication Devices and Texting While Operating a Motor Vehicle. During the meeting, members of the public who addressed the Board spoke favorably of the ordinance and urged its passage to increase public safety.
“Our board feels strongly that this is a public health and safety issue that needs to be addressed. Countless studies have shown that distracted drivers are far more likely to be involved in a crash than those who are focused on what’s going on around them,” said Board Chairman Matt Ryan. “On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I thank the Public Health District Advisory Board, our public health staff and Sheriff’s Office for helping address this critical issue.”
For years, County officials postponed passing its own ordinance, hoping that Arizona lawmakers would enact a statewide law placing restrictions on the use of cellphones and other devices while driving, Supervisor Ryan said.
While many bills have been introduced in the Arizona Legislature in that time, none have become law. Arizona is one of three states without any form of regulation on the use of cellphones and other devices while driving.
“It was important for the safety of our residents that we implement these safety measures in our area,” Supervisor Ryan said. “However, we still urge our lawmakers to consider a similar measure at the state level.”
The ordinance passed Tuesday goes into effect in 30 days on May 22. The ordinance states that “a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a portable communications device to engage in a call unless that device is configured to allow hand-free listening and talking, and is used exclusively in that manner while driving. Texting and typing are banned while operating a motor vehicle.”
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Coconino County Supervisors Ban Use, Sale of Fireworks
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution today that prohibits the sale and use of consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas of the County.
The action taken Friday immediately bans the sale and use of consumer fireworks on unincorporated areas of the County and is in effect until the U.S. Forest Service lifts Stage 1 fire restrictions.
“The Board has heard from countless residents who are concerned about what is likely to be an active fire season,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Ryan. “Our residents are all too familiar with the devastating impact wildfires have on our forests, property and economy. By approving this resolution banning the use of fireworks, the Board hopes to thwart the next wildfire.”
The Board approved the resolution under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Jan Brewer that grants counties under 500,000 people the authority to regulate the sale and use of fireworks when area forests enter into Stage 1 fire restrictions. Until signing the current law, counties could only regulate the use of consumer fireworks during a reasonable risk of wildfire.
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Reminder for the Citizen Prosecutor Academy
Tami Suchowiejko of the Coconino County Attorney’s office reminds Coconino County residents of the Citizen Prosecutor Academy scheduled for Friday May 2nd. The one-day course runs from 8:30 am to 5 pm and is conducted by various law enforcement agencies in the county.
Visit the website at www.coconino.az.gov/CountyAttorney to download an application form. Completed forms can be faxed to (928) 679-8201, or mailed to Coconino County Attorney’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 or contact Tami Suchowiejko at (928) 679-8229 or Email.
Detention Officer Arrested for Unlawful Sexual Conduct in a Correctional Facility
FLAGSTAFF – On Tuesday, April 8, 2014 a staff member of the Coconino County Detention Facility spoke with an adult female inmate who told him that a detention officer was engaging in inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature with her. This information was given to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation division and an internal affairs investigation was initiated. Sheriff’s Office staff contacted the Flagstaff Police Department and requested they conduct the criminal investigation of the offense.
As a result of the investigation by Flagstaff Police Detectives, 50 year-old Pete C. Gomez of Flagstaff, a Detention Officer II with the agency, was arrested for the offense of one count of Arizona Revised Statute 13-1419A (Unlawful Sexual Conduct in a Correctional Facility).
Gomez’s has been employed at the detention facility for five years. Gomez is on administrative leave as the internal investigation is continued by Sheriff’s Office Detectives. Flagstaff Police Detectives are continuing the criminal investigation.
Citizen Prosecutor Academy scheduled for May 2d.
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Attorney office will conduct another Citizen Prosecutor Academy on Friday May 2d from 8:30 to 5 pm.
The day-long academy is taught by various experts from the Coconino County Attorney’s Office as well as other professionals from the criminal justice system. Attendees will learn how criminal cases are handled from intake/grand jury through trial to appeal. They can also expect a lecture presented by the Medical Examiner and a presentation about the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab. Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of real-world prosecution and law enforcement. You can see a sample of lectures from their previous agenda.
“We are excited to continue our academy which brings the community into the office to share information, exchange ideas, and facilitate a better understanding of how the County Attorney’s Office serves the public. It’s also a lot of fun,” County Attorney Rozema stated in the press release.
The class sizes are limited so interested parties should apply as soon as possible. You can download an application by clicking here.
Community Meeting on Awareness & Prevention of Serious Injury and Fatality Collisions on Camp Townsend/Winona Road
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is facilitating a meeting to discuss motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities that have occurred on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. The meeting will be held at the Summit Fire District Station Number 31 located at 6425 N. Cosnino Road in Flagstaff on Thursday, March 27, 2014 beginning at 6:00 pm.
During the years of 2008 to February 4, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives have investigated 49 motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and five collisions that have resulted in fatalities on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. Investigations have revealed that a large number of the collisions are the result of driver error with the most predominant violations of “Speed in Excess Of the Posted Limit” and “Failure to Control Motor Vehicle.”
Representatives of the Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Public Works Engineering Department will present information to the community and discuss possible solution to include increased enforcement of traffic violations on Camp/Townsend Winona Road with emphasis on violations that may result in serious injury and fatality collisions. Representatives of the Public Works Department will discuss the possibility of additional signage.
The Sheriff’s Office is seeking information and suggestions from the public that create a collaborative effort to reduce collisions in the area. We cordially invite you to join the Sheriff’s Office in a partnership of trust and shared responsibility with the ultimate objective of increasing motoring-safety on Camp Townsend Winona Road and throughout our community.