Category Archives: Law Enforcement

Annual Procession of the Cross kicks off Easter weekend

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Rt66 procession 2016-03-25 009WILLIAMS — Williams held its annual Good Friday Procession of the Cross down Route 66 starting about 6 p.m. to kick off the Easter weekend festivities. Members of several churches joined together to carry the cross. The Williams Police Department made the traffic directions look routine to ensure the safety of the event.

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The event started with a prayer of safety by Father Killian of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. He followed with the announcement that, since this is a leap year, the ladies would have to carry the cross down the near two-mile stretch. The procession started at the Mustang store on the east end of town and traveled west the length of Route 66.

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66


The Good Friday event precedes the annual Easter Eggstravaganza at the Recreation Center on Railroad Avenue across from Circle-K. The event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
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Four great horned owlets rescued after illegal shooting of mother out of backyard nest

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160324_Tolleson_rescued_owlets_webPHOENIX — Thanks to a concerned citizen, four young great horned owl nestlings now are safe at a local wildlife rehabilitation center after the mother was illegally shot and had to be euthanized.

In early March, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program received a call from a Tolleson resident reporting that a neighbor had shot a nesting owl out of a tree in their yard.

Liberty Wildlife, a Scottsdale-based wildlife rehabilitation center, took the injured female in hopes of rehabilitating her, but x-rays indicated that the bird’s wing fracture was too severe. The bird was humanely euthanized.

Several days later, Game and Fish biologists climbed the tree to access the nest and remove the young when it was determined that the male parent would be unable to raise four young on his own. The department also was concerned the homeowner might harm the remaining owls since the family believed they were evil and was afraid of the birds.

“If the concerned citizen hadn’t notified our Operation Game Thief program about the shooting of the female owl, we may never have known and the four young would have likely not survived. The male parent was attempting to care for the young, but each nestling can eat up to 15 mice a day so it was a lot for him to keep up with,” said Arizona Game and Fish Officer Lainie Antolik. “Since owls are a protected species, the person was cited for taking wildlife without a license and taking wildlife during a closed season.”

The nestlings were placed with a foster female great horned owl at Liberty Wildlife to raise the young as naturally as possible. The four young will be released back into the wild once they are able to fly and hunt on their own.

As a misdemeanor offense, the homeowner could face penalties from the local justice court. In addition, the homeowner may face civil penalties from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and the department will seek restitution for caring for the owlets.

Operation Game Thief is a silent witness, anti-poaching program that encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or knowledge about a poaching violation. The toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to report wildlife violations. Reporting parties may be eligible for a monetary reward.

Poaching is the illegal take of game or fish, trespassing, littering, theft, or destroying property.

Artwork and Poetry from Inmates of Coconino Jail to be Showcased at Local Coffee House

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500-Art2FLAGSTAFF — More than thirty artistic drawings and sketches created by individuals while they were in-custody at the Coconino County Jail will be on display at Firecreek Coffee located at 22 East Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona. The event will take place on Friday, March 25, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and is open to the public free of charge. This event also will highlight a compilation of poems and literary pieces completed by inmates titled “My Self Portrait.”

The art and poetry are from inmates enrolled in the Coconino County Detention Facility Exodus program which is an in-custody substance abuse treatment program for men and women detained within the jail. Goals of the Exodus Program include:

• Reduce the impact substance abuse has on our community.
• Provide therapeutic and educational services to assist addicted inmates in making the decision to avoid future alcohol or drug consumption.
• Enhance inmates’ ability to make positive changes in their lives.
• Strengthen families, reduce recidivism and provide a proactive response to alcohol and substance abuse related crimes.
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The Exodus Program incorporates parenting classes, health education, creative writing, expressive art classes, stress management training and other life skills lessons that are provided by staff and outside agencies. Our on-staff art and creative writing teacher recognized the extraordinary artistic talent possessed by many of the men and women who participate in the Exodus Program. The Sheriff’s Office hopes this art display will enlighten community members as to the value and abilities of many of our inmates.

We would like to thank Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, Hidden Light Framing and Firecreek Coffee for their vision to see the value of this project and for their support and contributions.

Please visit the Coconino Sheriff Facebook page to get a preview of some of the art that will be showcased.

County Presents New SAR All-Terrain Transport Vehicle / Snowcat

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P800FLAGSTAFF — Yesterday the Coconino County Board of Supervisors and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office recognized the community service of Search and Rescue (SAR) during the presentation of a new snowcat, all-terrain transport vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office.

The new snowcat will provide Sheriff’s Office SAR with a reliable vehicle to respond to a variety of snow and all-terrain emergencies. It is a multi-functional all-terrain vehicle that can be used on mud, snow or ice. The new PistenBully Scout from Kassbohrer All-Terrain Vehicles, Inc. was purchased for $180,150. The current snowcat is a 1984 DeLorean Snowcat which is over 30 years old and has reached the limits of its serviceability, often being out of service because parts are unavailable.

“It was in the best interest of public safety, health, and welfare to obtain a new snowcat to address potential snow and mud related emergencies. The time to act is before the storm, and we feel this piece of equipment is a substantial asset to responding to these kinds of events throughout Northern Arizona,” said Sheriff Bill Pribil. “We greatly appreciate the generosity of the County Manager’s Office and Board of Supervisors in supporting the funding of this important piece of public safety equipment.”

Coconino County Public Works Fleet Management also assisted by researching equipment on the market and identifying a replacement snowcat that would best serve community given the weather and terrain conditions in Coconino County.

“This was an excellent example of county departments collaborating to find the best solution for the public safety needs of our community,” Pribil said.

The PistenBully Scout is powered by a John Deere diesel engine meeting the most current Tier 4 emission standards established by the EPA, which means less noise and less fuel consumption. While most machines are single-seated ski resort groomers and some are multi-passenger machines, the Scout has seating for an operator, front seat passenger, and 8-12 passengers. It also can be configured to carry approximately 9 passengers and a litter carrier for injured persons.

Reward offered for information on several elk poached in Pine

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azgf_logo2PINE, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a $2,000 reward for information on elk that were poached near a residential community in Pine, about 15 miles northwest of Payson.

Reports to the Department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline over the past two months led wildlife managers to several elk that were shot in separate instances in the vicinity of Pine Canyon. The meat was left to waste. Not only were the animals were killed outside of the legal season, it is illegal and unethical to waste game meat in Arizona. Because the carcasses were found near residences, it is possible that someone saw the suspect leaving the area.

“Poachers are not hunters; they are criminals who steal from Arizonans and waste our state’s valuable natural resources. We would like to find those responsible and are looking for the public’s help. Whether you witnessed suspicious activity or noticed a post on social media that may help us solve this senseless crime, please report it,” said Amy Burnett, AZGFD spokesperson.

If you have any information or knowledge of this incident, please contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline and refer to Case # 16-000542 at 1-800-352-0700 or on the web at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml. For this case, callers may be eligible for a reward up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest. Callers can remain confidential upon request. Money for rewards comes from criminal poaching fines, civil restitution by violators who commit wildlife crimes, and donations.

Cost for local attorneys to advertise services in Detention Facility reduced

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FLAGSTAFF — In 2015 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office developed a unique program by which attorneys are given the opportunity to advertise their services at the Coconino County Detention Facility.  Attorneys who chose to invest in this advertising were able to reach out to individuals who were in need of legal services. At the same time, the advertising purchase assisted in funding important programs in the Coconino County Detention Facility to include the Inmate Welfare Fund.

The cost of having legal service advertisement displayed in a 14” x 11” space in our detention lobby at the onset of this program was $5,000 per year, but we are reducing that annual fee to $2,500.  This works out to a little more than $200 per month.  The cost includes printing a color poster with a legal advertisement and the acrylic display frame with a holder for business cards.

The advertisements in the lobby can assist individuals coming into the jail lobby in connecting with legal assistance. All moneys generated from renting an advertisement space will go to the Inmate Welfare Fund which supports important programs such as Exodus (our in-custody drug and alcohol treatment program), re-entry programs, and other services that directly benefit our inmate population.

We believe that this will be a win-win for participating attorneys and the inmates in the detention facility.  Interested attorneys may contact Kathleen Levinson at 928-226-5074 or klevinson@coconino.az.gov for details on this program.

Sheriff’s Office Offers Citizen’s Situational Awareness/Active Shooter Survival Training

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The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is providing a two-hour class that will provide participants tools to assist them in surviving Crisis Situations such as Active Shooter Incidents.  This training is offered free of charge and is open to all community members ages 18 and older. 

The first portion of the class will address techniques to improve personal safety through Situational Awareness. The second half of the class will provide a three-step plan known as “Avoid, Deny, Defend” which can be applied to crises such as an Active Shooter Event. 

This two-hour class will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Auditorium of the Law Enforcement Administration Facility located at 911 E. Sawmill Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

In light of the recent life threatening crisis situations that have been forefront in the news, and the difficulty to predict where such incidents will take place, we believe this training is valuable for all community members. Sheriff’s Deputies and staff have been presenting a similar training to a wide variety of audience including classes for Coconino County employees, and we have received much positive feedback.

The class on March 22 will be taught by Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Lieutenant Jim Coffey. There is no fee, but pre-registration is required. The class includes some video and audio recordings of actual and simulated crises events that some people may find disturbing. Because of the possibly disturbing audio and video content, attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

Because seating is limited, you are asked to pre-register online at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office webpage: http://www.coconino.az.gov/sheriff.aspx.  There is a link for online registration in the left menu bar and on the homepage of the Sheriff’s Office under our mission statement.  You also can register by calling (928) 226-5012 and providing your contact information.  We will contact you to confirm your registration. 

In the event this class fills to capacity, we will establish a waiting list and schedule future training.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting Thursday

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2016. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Janet Dean who is the Community Affairs Manager for Arizona Public Service (APS) will present an update of APS Operations in Northern Arizona and will be available to answer any questions.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Information wanted regarding Clover fire on Williams Ranger District

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Clover Fire at 3:43 p.m. February 28

WILLIAMS — Fire managers from the Williams Ranger District responded to a suspicious human-caused fire on Sunday, Feb. 28, just west of Buckskinner Park after receiving a call from the Williams Police Department. The Clover fire, which was reported just after 1 p.m., was suppressed by fire personnel and will continue to be monitored.

Forest visitors are reminded to use extreme caution when camping with recent warm temperatures, lack of precipitation, and low humidity as it can create a situation for rapid fire growth. Visitors can help in reducing the number of preventable, human-caused fires by completely extinguishing campfires before leaving their camp site.

No fire restrictions are in effect on the Kaibab National Forest, though fire managers continuously monitor conditions and could increase fire danger levels at any time, as necessary. Regardless of whether or not restrictions are in place, abandoning a campfire is illegal.

The Clover fire is currently under investigation by Forest Service Law Enforcement and anyone who may have information regarding the cause of the fire, or observed anyone suspicious in the area near the time of the fire is encouraged to contact Kaibab National Forest Dispatch at 928-635-2601 or Fire Information at 928-635-5653.

More information on the Kaibab National Forest can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/Kaibab. Information on fire restrictions across the state can be viewed at http://firerestrictions.us/az/.

Law enforcement seeking information on suspicious fires

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Coconino_MobileForest Service law enforcement and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking any information on a string of suspicious human-caused fires that have occurred over the last two days in Oak Creek Canyon.

On Monday (Feb. 22), from approximately 7:30 to 8 p.m., four fires—named the Briar, Snake, Rock and Switchback fires—were started in Oak Creek Canyon along Highway 89A and grew to only a tenth of an acre before they were reported and fire personnel extinguished them. The Briar fire was located on the west side of the highway, about 1.4 miles north of Midgley Bridge, near Leo Schnur Lane. The Snake fire was about a quarter of a mile south of the Encinoso Picnic Area on the east side of the highway. The Rock fire was just north of Slide Rock State Park and on the east side of Highway 89A. The Switchback fire was located near the southwest corner of the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks on the east side of the highway.

On Tuesday (Feb. 23), at about 4 p.m. the Halfway fire was reported just south of the Halfway Picnic Area on the east side of the highway. Later that evening at about 5:20 p.m. the Creek fire was reported just below the Halfway Picnic Area on the west side of the highway.

These fires are under investigation, and anyone that may have information regarding the cause of these fires or may have observed anyone suspicious in the area at the time of the fire is encouraged to contact Forest Service Law Enforcement at 928-527-3511 or the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523. The public may also call the Coconino Silent Witness number at 928-774-6111, and if your information leads to an arrest, you will be offered a reward of up to $1,000.