Category Archives: Law Enforcement

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.

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.

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.

Missing man may be in Flagstaff

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Untitled-1FLAGSTAFF — On October 8, 2015, 72 year old David Chester Scanlin was reported missing by his daughter (Erin Thein) who lives in Oregon. She said that David is possible in the Flagstaff area with a female named Cynthia Lee. David may display signs of early dementia. Erin last spoke with David on Cynthia’s phone in mid-September 2015 where David said that he and Cynthia were in the Flagstaff Area and were looking to purchase an older RV to live in.

The couple may be in a 1991 Blue or Green 1991 Chevy Corsica with AZ ALA8506. This vehicle is registered to Cynthia. Cynthia also is registered to a 1972 RV. The make is “FROLI” and has an Arizona license plate of AZ 06565C.

David has been entered into NCIC (nationwide data base) as a missing person. If you have any information regarding this person please contact Detective Carlson at 928 679-4060. If you have any information regarding a felony crime and do not want to leave your name, please contact SILENT WITNESS at 928 774-6111.

Several calls for SAR help taken by Sheriff’s Department

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FLAGSTAFF — During Sunday through Tuesday of this week deputies and the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) unit responded to five calls for help during all hours of the day and night and at times under very hazardous conditions to help their fellow men and women.

On Sunday, October 11, 2015 at about 6:00 pm the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that an adult male and his teenage daughter both of Flagstaff were stranded in the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon. A Sheriff’s Office SAR coordinator requested assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue Division. The DPS helicopter based in Phoenix responded and conducted an air search over the area where the two stranded hikers were believed to be. Crew members were able to determine that both subjects were uninjured and were well prepared with provisions and camping equipment to spend the night at their current location. At daybreak Monday morning the SAR Technical Rescue Team and the DPS helicopter based in Flagstaff responded to West Fork Canyon. Two rescuers hiked down to the hikers’ location and prepared them for transportation via the short haul method. During the first trip the teenage girl and a rescuer were suspended beneath the helicopter on a cable and flown to an area where they were safely lowered to the ground. During the second trip the adult male, the family dog and a rescuer were transported out of the canyon via the short haul Method. Neither of the hikers required any medical attention.

On Monday, October 12, 2015 at about 4:00 pm an Arizona Game and Fish officer called the Sheriff’s Office to advise of an overdue hunter in the Blue Ridge area located west of Lake Mary Road. An adult male and his granddaughter were hunting elk and one of the two subjects shot an elk. For an unknown reason the two subjects became separated at approximately 1:30 pm. The granddaughter used her cell phone to alert the Arizona Game and Fish. The Sheriff’s Office deputy stationed in Blue Ridge and Search and Rescue personnel responded to the area and met with the Game and Fish officer who reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office. They began a ground search and a Game and Fish officer located the missing hunter. The hunter did not require medical attention and was returned to his vehicle.

On Monday afternoon the Sheriff’s Office sergeant who serves as the SAR coordinator was in the process of assisting with logistics in the search for the missing cliff jumper in Lake Powell when he was made aware of a missing adult female and her 14 year old son who were hiking on the Kachina Trail of the San Francisco Peaks. It was believed that the two left the Arizona Snowbowl parking lot at about 1:30 pm for the purpose of taking a short hike. At sundown the two became disoriented and wandered off the trail by about a half of a mile. On duty deputies hiked the Kachina Trial and located the lost subjects and escorted them back to their vehicles.

During that same afternoon the SAR coordinator was contacted by Havasupai tribal officials and informed that a hiker in Supai Canyon injured her leg. Members of the Supai Rural CERT team were able to transport the injured hiker to Supai Village. Tribal Officials requested assistance in having an air rescue helicopter transport the injured hiker out of the canyon and to a medical center.

Body of Cliff Jumper Recovered by Multi-Agency Response

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Coconino County Sheriff Photo

Coconino County Sheriff Photo

PAGE — Today [Wednesday] at 9:37 a.m., the 6-day search for missing 29-year old Billy Burke of Jackson Hole, Wyoming concluded when his body was spotted at a depth of 153 feet in Lake Powell.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol Division discovered the body using an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Billy’s body was discovered at the base of a cliff in the Coconino County portion of Face Canyon where friends reported that he entered the water in the afternoon of Friday October 9 after attempting a cliff jump of approximately 90 feet.

The ROV deployed by Maricopa County is over 60% smaller and more agile for navigating the rugged underwater terrain in the search area than the ROV used on previous search days. This ROV was able to approach the cliff walls without stirring up as much sediment, which allowed for improved viewing of the area.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Acting Superintendent Lindy Mihata extends thanks to Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Utah State Parks for contributing to this successful search and underwater recovery effort.

The search was coordinated by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, while the investigation is being coordinated by Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives. At this point in the investigation, investigators do not believe that foul play was involved, and that this was an unfortunate accident.

Since the year 2000, six cliff jumping deaths have occurred in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

NAU Police release 911 recording

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FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University Police released recordings of their 911 call from the shooting tragedy that took place on campus early morning yesterday.

Counseling Services have been set up today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. The Office of Student Life and the Health and Learning Center also will open at 10 a.m. NAU students representing fraternity and sorority life are planning a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. on the North Quad of the Flagstaff campus.

NAU has an emergency text alert system, however human error caused the alerts to be initially sent at 2:52 a.m. to only 700 people. The residence hall director was one who received the text and took immediate steps to warn everyone in the hall.

An NAU statement read, “Redundancies in our communications led to the residence hall director securing the area where the immediate threat was identified.”

Person arrested in NAU shooting

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Steven Jones - Flagstaff Police Photo

Steven Jones – Flagstaff Police Photo

FLAGSTAFF — Steven Jones was arrested for the shooting death of a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. According to news reports, three other students were injured.

According to the KNAU website, the students shot were members of the Delta Chi fatenity, but 18-year-old Jones was not.

Colin Brough was killed in the shooting and Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientk and Nicoholas Piring were injured. Their site also references, “An Instragram account believed to be that of the NAU campus shooting suspect shows him posing with various firearms.”

Steven Jones made an intial court appearance for one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault this afternoon.

The cause of the shooting is still under investigation. Jones claimed that he retrieved the gun from his vehicle because he was being chased after a fist-fight and warned that he was armed.

Flagstaff Voices noted that Flagstaff council member Eva Putzova was quick to politicize the shooting. She is an outspoken advocate of revoking the Second Amendment in Flagstaff.

Council member Coral Evans also took to Facebook questioning how it was possible for an 18-year-old freshman to have a gun on campus.

NAU policy does not allow firearms in the buildings, but they may be locked up in vehicles.

Pedestrian killed in Flagstaff early this morning

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FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 02:57 a.m. this morning, officers were dispatched to a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle at 1601 S. Milton which resulted in the death of the pedestrian.

Officer responding to the scene located a Native American male who had been hit as he crossed from the west side of Milton to the east side near the Target entrance.

The driver who struck the pedestrian had been traveling north in the curb lane.

The Native American male was wearing dark clothing and was not inside a crosswalk at the time of the collision. The pedestrian was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver cooperated completely with the investigation and there was no indication of impairment. This investigation is pending next of kin notification of the deceased as well as further follow up.