Category Archives: Department of Public Safety

NEARLY $530,000 AWARDED TO AZDPS BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EQUIPMENT

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Phoenix — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has been awarded over $527,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, seatbelt enforcement details, collision reduction details, and the street racing task force. The grant funding will also support overtime staffing in Operational Communications and the State Crime Laboratory.

Funds will also be directed to the training of additional Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) and will also allow for the purchase of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) speed measurement devices and other speed measuring radars to be used for traffic enforcement by troopers.

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

  • $40,000 for seatbelt enforcement details
  • $100,000 for DUI enforcement
  • $30,000 for distracted driving enforcement
  • $152,369 for STEP speed enforcement and equipment
  • $30,000 for the Street Racing Task Force
  • $70,000 in overtime funding for the state crime lab
  • $15,000 for dispatch support for DUI & street racing enforcement
  • $90,000 for DRE training, materials & supplies

“Speed, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and seatbelt usage continue to be the leading causes of serious injury and fatal collisions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman Jr., Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division at AZDPS. “Thanks to the continued support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”

Suspects arrested for aggravated assault and weapons violation in Tusayan

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TUSAYAN – On May 27 at about 3:57 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male subject pointing a gun at people inside and outside of the Squire Inn in Tusayan. Further reports indicated several shots had been fired outside of the hotel with no injuries reported.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety Helicopter, Department of Public Safety Officer’s and Park Rangers from the Grand Canyon Nation Parks Service responded to the scene. During the investigation the male subject was identified as 23-year-old Ezekiel VALENZUELA and female subject identified as 20-year-old Reyna MUNOZ.

Upon responding to the Squire Inn, deputies spoke with witnesses on scene who described a male and female subject in the arcade engaged in an altercation. Bystanders attempted to intervene to stop the altercation when the male subject pulled a hand gun from his waist and pointed it at patrons.

Both subjects exited the Squire Inn and began walking towards a forested area to the west of the hotel. The male subject again pointed the gun at an employee in the parking lot as the two were walking from the area.

Both subjects were found to work at the Wendy’s in Tusayan and reside in local housing. Deputies, DPS and National Parks Service Rangers were able to locate the subjects at a residence in the area and detained both subjects without incident.

Upon interviewing the subjects, MUNOZ reported she had been the one who had discharged the gun after taking it from VALENZUELA. MUNOZ reported she had not discharged the gun at anyone.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence, where deputies located the firearm and the clothing they had been wearing at the time of the incident as indicated by video surveillance.

Both subjects were transported to the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff and booked on multiple charges including Aggravated Assault, Disorderly Conducted with a Deadly Weapon, Endangerment and False Information to Law Enforcement.

Sheriff’s Office Responds to Barricaded Subject in Tuba City, AZ

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TUBA CITY – At approximately 8:30 am yesterday, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received information from Navajo Police Department in Tuba City of an armed barricaded subject at the Pasture Canyon Apartments belonging to the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation.

54-year old Allen Lynch, Jr. had barricaded himself in his residence after a domestic disturbance involving a discharge of a firearm and threats to a family member. Due to the involvement of a firearm in a residential neighborhood, a number of residents were evacuated.

Navajo Police requested the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office respond because the incident involved non-native individuals making it the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office.

Over 7 hours of negotiations with the subject ensued afterwhich a robot from the Flagstaff Police Department was used to enter the residence where Mr. Lynch was located. The Tactical Team was able to secure the residence and take Mr. Lynch into custody.

Mr. Lynch was transported to the Tuba City Regional Health Care for medical evaluation and later booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility in Flagstaff under charges including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Disorderly Conduct with a Firearm, and Criminal Damage.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Navajo Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police/Coconino Sheriff Tactical Team, Guardian Air based out of Tuba City, and Security Personnel from Tuba City Regional Health Care.

High speed chase ends in crash and manhunt in Williams

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WILLIAMS – A chase by Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies which began in Ash Fork ended in a crash at exit 165 in Williams at about 11. It appears there were three suspects, one was injured in the crash and one was apprehended at the ADOT yard on Route 66. A manhunt is in effect for one suspect, considered armed and dangerous.

Williams schools are currently on lock-down. Bearizona was on lock-down, but it appears they are allowing traffic out of the wild life park, but traffic is still being re-routed on Route 66. Traffic on I-40 still appears to be moving.

Details are not known about the cause of the chase or what the suspects were wanted for. There were gunshots fired, but there are no reports of injuries at this time.

Units from the Williams Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s office and the Department of Public Safety are participating in the search.

Williams responds to overturned semi on I-40

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WILLIAMS – Williams first responders responded to an overturned semi-truck on I-40 about five-miles east of Williams about 9:10 a.m. The multi-agency response also consisted of Arizona Department of Public Safety, Lifeline ambulance and animal control from Flagstaff.

A semi-truck with a load of chicken overturned on I-40 westbound about five-miles west of Williams landing approximately 130-feet off of the freeway. The driver suffered minor lacerations to the face and was transported by Lifeline Ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Facility.

The driver had five Chihuahuas in the cab which appear to have not been injured. The report is three Chihuahua adults and two pups. A team from Flagstaff was dispatched to take care of the dogs.

Fifty-Nine Year-Old Lost Hiker Rescued from Humphries Peak

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FLAGSTAFF — On April 21st at approximately 8:30 AM the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue responded to a report of a lost hiker on Humphrey’s Peak. The 59 year old male hiker was determined to be off trail at approximately 11,700 foot elevation in an area known as Temptation Gully. The hiker was reported to be cold, tired, disoriented, with some underlying medical conditions.

Search and Rescue personnel hiked into the area and located the hiker at 12:43 AM. After assessing his condition it was determined that the safest route was to hike to the Humphrey’s Saddle and then evaluate the options for evacuation. A second search team hiked to the Humphreys Saddle and prepared to receive the hiker and provide warm drinks, food, and dry clothing.

Due to the hikers fatigue and symptoms of acute mountain sickness an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue helicopter from Phoenix was requested to evaluate landing at the saddle to pick up the hiker. DPS Air Rescue arrived in the area of the saddle at 3:30 AM and attempted to land but was unable to due to high winds. The decision was made to camp just off the saddle and out of the wind until daylight allowing the hiker time to rest and regain normal body temperature. The daylight would also offer increased visibility. At 4:15 AM a third search team equipped with a litter and ropes began hiking to the saddle and was prepared to assist the hiker if he became unable to hike out on his own due his symptoms of acute mountain sickness and fatigue.

At approximately 6:00 AM the hiker and the search teams began to hike down the Humphreys Trail. An Arizona Snowbowl Snowcat was dispatched to an area near the ski area boundary at the base of the Pluto ski run. The Search and Rescue Teams assisted the hiker to that location where he was loaded into the snowcat and transported to the Agassiz Lodge to be reunited with a family member. The Search and Rescue personnel hiked down the mountain and completed the mission by 11:30 A.M.

This incident was another example of the close working relationship between the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, DPS Air Rescue, and the Arizona Snowbowl to resolve an emergency. Even in the spring, winter like conditions can still exist on the San Francisco Peaks. Hikers on the peaks trails should research the conditions and be prepared to turn around if the conditions become hazardous or the trail becomes difficult to navigate. Hikers should also be personally and physically prepared for the hike including carrying the appropriate equipment and clothing and leaving a detailed trip plan with a trusted person.

Northern Arizona law enforcement track kidnapping suspect

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On Wednesday, June 18, 2015 at approximately 1:19 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Lieutenant who manages the Page Patrol division received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that an individual may have been taken against his will. The FBI provided subject, victim and vehicle descriptions as well as direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the subject was seeking to acquire a firearm.

The CCSO Lieutenant initiated a regional attempt to locate message with information regarding the case and a vehicle description to Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies to include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Page Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the National Park Service.

An Arizona DPS Officer and a CCSO Sergeant located the suspect vehicle as it was north bound on Highway 89 and positioned behind a pilot vehicle at a construction zone near Cedar Ridge.

The officer and a deputy attempted to perform a high risk stop on the vehicle and administered verbal commands instructing the occupants to exit the vehicle. The occupants failed to follow instructions and the driver maneuvered the vehicle through the construction zone and continued north on Highway 89 at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour with officers in pursuit.

Page Police Officers, AZ DPS Officers and National Park Service Rangers attempted on four occasions to deploy Stop Sticks designed to gradually deflate vehicle tires; however the driver was able to avoid the stop sticks at all four locations.

At one point a Page Police Officer fired his duty weapon once at the suspect vehicle; no one was struck or injured by the bullet. CCSO Detectives and Page Police Department personnel are conducting independent investigations of this shooting.

The pursuit continued through the City of Page, AZ and north on Highway 89 into Utah. As the vehicle fled from pursuing officers the occupants threw items out of the windows to include miscellaneous papers. Utah law enforcement authorities deployed stop sticks at two more locations and during both incidents the devices effectively deflated all four tires of the suspect vehicle. In the area of milepost 54.9 on Highway 89 after traveling on tireless wheels, the vehicle veered to the side of the road.

Pursuing officers gave commands to the occupants to exit the vehicle. For a prolonged period of time the occupants refused to follow commands and continued to throw items out of the vehicle to include an empty handgun holster. They also waved an American Flag and a second unidentified flag out of the windows. At least one of the occupants placed gas masks over his face.

Eventually the driver who was believed to be the alleged kidnap victim exited the vehicle and shortly thereafter the passenger also exited the vehicle. Both individuals were taken into custody by Deputies assigned to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit. Utah Highway Patrol officials are continuing this investigation.

A portion of Highway 89 in Utah was shut down for a prolonged period of time as the result of the pursuit and subsequent standoff with the vehicle occupants.

Heavy metal gets attention of the Arizona House.

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PHOENIX—Republican representative Thomas Forese has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at metal theft.

HB 2261 would amend the criminal code of the ARS 13-1820 concerning the theft of metals. A person would commit metal theft if “without lawful authority” the person knowingly:

1. Controls ferrous metal or nonferrous metal that is the property of another with the intent to deprive the other person of the metal.
2. Obtains ferrous metal or nonferrous metal that is the property of another by means of any material misrepresentation with intent to deprive the other person of the metal.
3. Comes into control of lost, mislaid or misdelivered ferrous metal or nonferrous metal that is the property of another under circumstances providing means of inquiry as to the true owner and appropriates the metal to the person’s own or another’s use without reasonable efforts to notify the true owner.
4. Controls ferrous metal or nonferrous metal that is the property of another knowing that the metal was stolen.
5. Unless acquired in the ordinary course of business by an automotive recycler or a scrap metal dealer, the inferences listed in section 13‑2305 apply to any prosecution under subsection A, paragraph 4 of this section.

Ferrous metal is defined as metals that will attract a metal while non-ferrous metal will not.

For the purposes of prosecution, the value of the metal would include the damage to the property from which the metal was stolen which occurs during the theft.

As an additional means of combating metal theft, the Legislator has also introduced HB 2262 which would amend sections of ARS Title 44 relating to the licensing and record keeping of scrap dealers in Arizona.

Currently scrap dealers are required to register with the Department of Public Safety and keep records of any transactions they make in metals exceeding $25. The new law would require them to keep records of all transactions.

It would also add certain records that scrap dealers must keep. It would also allow cities and counties to add regulations aimed at recovering the cost of enforcing this law.

DPS would also be required to submit a report every two years to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House identifying all scrap dealers in the State of Arizona. All law enforcement officer in the state to register with a free web site that would send detailed descriptions of stolen items to scrap metal dealers and other law enforcement agencies within 100 miles of the theft.