Category Archives: Law Enforcement

Mesa Man Arrested on Multiple Counts of Burglary in the Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes Communities

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dillon Flagstaff – On Thursday, January 1, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 57 year old Douglas Doyle Dillon of Mesa, Arizona in connection with multiple residential burglaries in the Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes communities. Between the months of March through December 2014 over 20 burglaries were reported in or near these communities.

Investigation revealed the burglaries occurred during the winter months when the targeted seasonal homes were unoccupied. Outbuildings such as garages, storage sheds and workshops were the primary target, and the majority of items taken during these burglaries were contractor type tools to include air compressors, power tools, saws, drills, and chainsaws.

While investigating the burglaries in the Forest Lakes area, images of a suspect were retrieved from cameras installed at the victimized residences. The deputy also collected blood samples at one scene where there was broken glass from the forced entry. This evidence was submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Lab for analysis. The crime lab was able to obtain a DNA profile from the blood sample and submitted it to the FBI CODIS system, which houses DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local forensic laboratories.

Analysis of the blood sample matched a DNA sample from Dillon. Detectives submitted investigative reports to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for review and charging. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Douglas Doyle Dillon.

Although there was a warrant for arrest, Dillon was difficult to locate as Detectives believed he was living transient. During the month of December several more residential burglaries were reported in Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes, and deputies continued to attempt to locate Douglas Dillon.

On January 1, 2015 the community deputy for the Forest Lakes area located Dillon as he was attempting to free his vehicle from a snow bank. Dillon was arrested on the outstanding warrant and was transported to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility located in Flagstaff where he currently remains in custody on one count of First Degree Burglary, two counts of Third Degree Burglary and one count of Possession of Stolen Property. Detectives and AZ DPS Crime Lab are continuing this investigation and additional burglary charges are anticipated.

Washington legislator calls for Sheriff of Spokane Valley to apologize for MRAP remark

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matt-sheaWASHINGTON – While citizens have not yet received an explanation for three mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles apparently being stored around Mohave County, a larger controversy was sparked this month by a comment by a Sheriff’s Deputy in Spokane, Washington.

Alex Jones of Infowars released a news report concentrating on a statement made by a Spokane County deputy. Apparently the officers were shopping for Christmas gifts for underprivileged children with the vehicle when a citizen approached and conducted a phone recorded video. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich responded to the report complaining that only a second of video was used and not the whole interview. Jones released an edited copy of the whole video on his YouTube channel.

The remark made by 20-year veteran deputy and former Army member Jerry Moffit was

Well, it’s like you said. I mean, we’ve got a lot of constitutionalists and a lot of people that stockpile weapons—a lot of ammunition.

When asked, next, if the officer thought that people had the right to carry have those weapons, Deputy Moffit responded:

Well, its the United States.

The Sheriff in a KXLY report stated:

There is no way this equipment will ever be used against any law abiding citizen. It will never be used to come and take your guns away.

Those assurances probably will not serve to assuage concerns in light of police unconstitutionally rounding up weapons after the Katrina debacle in Louisiana.

The surprising thing about the MRAP vehicle is that they are in places where one would not even think to look. NPR reported that the San Diego Unified School District acquired one in September of this year after paying the $5,000 shipping fee. Even in Southern California the idea did not seem popular. One reader commented on their web site:

“They can call it a ‘love buggy,’ a ‘student patrol limo,’ or a ‘campus police fun bus’ and then paint it pretty colors, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a piece of military equipment that is unnecessary and sends the message that local officials are at war with students.”

The presence of the MRAP vehicle and statement by the deputy sparked protest rallies in Spokane in which no buildings were burned or property damaged. There were no reports of anyone being intentionally beaten and no police officer were shot execution-style. One video was released of a speech by Washington State representative Matt Shea who represents the Fourth District.

In the video, he said, “I do want to say, and I want to thank, the Sheriff Deputies in Spokane Valley who contacted me this week, and who said, ‘We don’t agree with the Sheriff. We would never arrest Constitutionalists because we are Constitutionalists’.”

Representative Shea mocked the response of the Sheriff that the statement was taken out of context saying that there is no context that would justify the statement that caused the controversy. “A real leader would have said, ‘I’m sorry’,” Shea said.

He also referenced a Senate hearing in which Rand Paul asked why the national government was giving bayonets to police departments.

Shea asked what training the deputy received which would embolden him to make such a statement. He noted that on May 11, 2007 Sheriff Knezovich brought in the Southern Poverty Law Center in to train the Sheriff’s department. He said that the Sheriff did not know the content of the training even though a picture of the Sheriff was included in the slide show.

This is not actual evidence that the Sheriff did know what was contained in the training. A cursory view of the SPLC web site, however, shows that they are an anti-constitutional organization spewing government propaganda against so-called militia groups. They are probably the group referenced as “A prominent civil rights organization” in the Right Wing Extremism memorandum issued by Department of Homeland Security director Janet Napalitano.

The Sheriff, in the interview, indicated that the use of the word Constitutionalist was unfortunate and the word extremist should have probably been used. The memorandum and the SPLC does not differentiate between the two, however. About five years ago, a video of FEMA training was leaked in which the facilitator stated that the founding fathers were terrorists.

Representative Shea ended his rally speech by saying:

So today we call upon the Sheriff of Spokane Valley to apologize to the community. To apologize to the American People. To conduct a constitutional rights class.

SEE ALSO:
A School District Bought An 18-Ton MRAP Because The World Is Insane by Michael Ballaban
KXLY Spokane

Robbery at the Highway 89 Express Stop

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FLAGSTAFF – On Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at approximately 9:57 pm a 911 dispatcher received the report of a robbery that had just occurred at 4525 N. Highway 89 at the Express Stop.

During the investigation deputies learned that a male approximately 5’6” to 5’7” in height and last seen wearing all black clothing with his face covered, walked into the Express Stop and handed the clerk a note instructing her to empty the register. The clerk gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash. After taking the money the suspect exited the business and walked in a westerly direction towards the Wendy’s Restaurant.

Investigators believe the suspect waited until no customers were in the store before he approached the victim handing her the written note. Witnesses who were outside of the store reported seeing a male who was acting in a suspicious manner, possibly of Native American decent loitering in the parking lot just before the robbery occurred.

A Sheriff’s Deputy and her K-9 dog responded to the scene in an attempt to track the suspect’s scent. The dog followed a scent to a wooded area located west of the El Paso Natural Gas facilities at which point the K-9 appeared to lose the scent. No contact was made with any potential suspects.

Individuals who believe they may have information about this robbery or the identity or location of a possible suspect are urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at (928)774-6111.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – 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, December 18, 2014. 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. This will be our end of the year Holiday Pot-Luck meeting, so all participants are asked to prepare and bring their favorite Holiday dish.

Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll will be at the meeting to encourage continued neighborhood participation and to share information. District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be present to share information from Coconino County Government. Doney Park Community Deputies will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Our guest speaker will be Joe Meehan who is the former director of the Pioneer Museum. Mr. Meehan will give a very interesting and educational presentation on the History of the Doney Park area. All residents of the Doney Park area are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Kidnapping Suspect

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Bertrand Eugene/Sheriff Photo

Bertrand Eugene/Sheriff Photo

FLAGSTAFF – On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the emergency department of the Flagstaff Medical Center on the report of the kidnapping of an eight year old boy. Deputies spoke with a man who identified himself as the grandfather and legal guardian of the victim and his ten year old brother.

According to the victim’s grandfather a family friend—who was identified as 51 year old Bertrand Eugene of Flagstaff—came to his home located off of Leupp Road on Wednesday at about 4:30 a.m. The two men spoke while standing in the front yard of the residence. According to the victim’s grandfather Bertrand Eugene said he wanted to take the eight year old victim to Alabama with him. The grandfather said no, ended the conversation and went back into his home. The grandfather said Eugene remained in the area of the front yard.

At about 6:30 a.m. the grandfather left the residence leaving the two boys with their grandmother. According to the eight year old victim he heard a knock at the front door and when he opened it he heard Eugene calling for him to come outside. As the victim exited the house the suspect grabbed him and forced him into the cab of Eugene’s vehicle.

The ten year old boy watched as this occurred and as the vehicle began to move he ran in front of it and Eugene swerved the vehicle around him. As the vehicle passed the boy he jumped onto the rear of the truck bed but quickly fell to the road surface resulting in minor injuries. The eight year old victim climbed out of the rear sliding window of the truck cab and jumped from the moving vehicle onto the road surface receiving minor injuries.

The suspect fled the area in his vehicle.

Deputies and Detectives began an active search for Eugene. Area law enforcement agencies were quickly advised of the occurrence and of the description of the suspect and his vehicle. Detectives also contacted law enforcement authorities in Alabama and advised them that Eugene may be on his way to that state.

On Thursday, December 4, 2014 Deputies responded to the area of Townsend Winona Road and Hidden Hills Road on the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon their arrival they made contact with one of the occupants of the truck and identified him as Bertrand Eugene.

Eugene was arrested on the charges of Kidnaping, Aggravated Assault and Endangerment. He is currently being held in the Coconino County Detention Facility. This case was submitted to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for review and additional felony charges are anticipated.

Sweat Lodge Provides Inmates Access to Traditional Ceremonies

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SweatlodgeFLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has several programs to address the traditional needs of our inmate population. One of these programs is the provision of a sweat lodge ceremony, and recently our facility conducted two Sweat Lodge Ceremonies for inmates.

For some Native American cultures the Sweat Lodge Ceremony provides purification and balance of body, mind, spirit and emotions and can serve as a Prayer Circle, or a Healing Circle transforming the Old Self into the New Self. Rocks are heated in a fire pit outside the structure and then brought inside and placed in a small hole in the ground; there is no fire inside the structure. The ceremony is conducted in four parts and might last as long as three hours with breaks. A traditional Messenger helps perform the ceremony. We plan to make Sweat Lodge Ceremonies available to the inmate population on a monthly schedule.
sweatcrow2
This is one of many programs our facility and staff offer to help inmates initiate positive life changes. The programs include opportunities for life changes supported by spiritual, religious, educational, health, and substance abuse treatment approaches. While the Sheriff’s Office strives to make available recognized religious, recovery and a variety of self-improvement programs to the diverse cultures representing in the inmate population, we also recognize that approximately 50% of the people in our custody are of Native American descent. For this reason our programs include Sweat Lodge and a Hogan which may be unique compared to programs offered at facilities elsewhere in U.S. detention facilities. Partnership with the Navajo Behavioral Health Services has been vital to the success of many of these programs.

At the Coconino County Detention Facility we believe that time spent incarcerated can be turned into productive time, and inmates can leave our facility with improved life skills and a determination to make positive changes in their lives. Many of the programs provided to inmates are funded by the Inmate Welfare Fund which comes from commissary and phone usage fees. We are committed to enhancing inmate programs which benefit not only the inmates in custody but also can have broader reaching effects on our community as a whole.

Missing Person Thomas Lang Found Deceased

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thomas langFLAGSTAFF – Sadly, searchers believe they have located the skeletal remains of 22 year old Thomas Lang who was originally reported as an overdue hiker on December 18, 2013. His parents have spent many weekends since the formal search was suspended, hiking areas where they believe their son might be located.

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 Thomas’s parents were searching for their son in the Secret Canyon area located within Yavapai County. Thomas’ mother, called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue advising she believed she found a jacket and shoes that possibly belonged to her son.

Yavapai and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue units coordinated a further search effort. The Arizona Department of Public Safety launched one of their Air Rescue Helicopters with a Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteer on board to conduct overflights of the area where the items were located. During the flight two additional items consistent with what Lang was believed to have taken with him on his backpacking trip were located from the air.

640px-LANG1On Sunday morning a multi-agency intensive ground search was commenced. Agencies who assisted with the search included Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, Yavapai County Sheriff’s helicopter and Thomas Lang’s parents. At about 10:00 am the crew aboard the Yavapai Sheriff’s helicopter confirmed that the items spotted the previous day were a backpack, tarp, and a guitar. Teams from Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, including two search dogs, and Yavapai Sheriff’s Search and Rescue hiked in very rough and steep terrain reaching the items spotted from the air at approximately noon. At 12:45 pm the team located what they believed to be the remains of Thomas Lang.

The remains have not been positively identified and have been released to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner. The Yavapai County and Coconino County Medical Examiners are working together in an effort to identify the remains and determine the cause and manner of death.

The initial search was started after Lang’s father dropped him off at the Manzanita Campground on December 18, 2013 at about 11:00 am. It was Lang’s intention to hike in the area and return on December 22, 2013. When Lang did not return his family members called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and reported him as a missing person. It was at this point that a multi-agency, intensive ground and air search was commenced.

Agencies and resources that were involved with the initial search efforts in 2013 included the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), the YCSO Search and Rescue Unit, the YCSO helicopter, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the CCSO Search and Rescue Unit, Lang’s parents, the Civil Air Patrol, the Maricopa County Search and Rescue Unit, the Mojave County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Unit. The formal search was suspended on December 27, 2013 after an extensive five day search.

In addition to the initial search effort, the Civil Air Patrol flew over the search area and took photographs utilizing a high resolution camera in April 2014. On several different dates hikers reported seeing items that they believe might belong to the missing person. In response to these reports the YCSO helicopter flew multiple missions.

Until the recent discovery of items by Lang’s mother, all of the previously reported items were determined not to belong to Lang. Throughout 2014, both the YCSO and the CCSO Search and Rescue Units conducted numerous training missions in the area where Lang went missing with the dual purpose of training as well as possibly uncovering more clues about his disappearance. It is common to conduct training missions in areas where outstanding missing persons are believed to be.

Sheriff of El Dorado County strips federal law enforcement of their law enforcement powers

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dagostini-01El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini has stripped the power of the forest service law enforcement to enforce State laws in his county according to CBS Sacramento.

In a letter they obtained, Sheriff D’Agostini wrote:

“I take the service that we provide to the citizens of El Dorado County and the visitors to El Dorado County very seriously, and the style and manner of service we provide. The U.S. Forest Service, after many attempts and given many opportunities, has failed to meet that standard.”

The Sheriff said that he took the action after numerous complaints.

Sheriff D’Agostini is also known for a January 2013 letter to Vice-President Biden over the proposed gun ban according to KRNV in Nevada. In the letter he wrote:

“The purpose of this letter is to go on record of re-affirming my oath of office and making it clear that I and my staff will never violate [our oath of office] by being pressured into enforcing any unconstitutional provision, law or executive order.”

He noted that disarming law-abiding citizens would not prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals.

Cromer School Burglarized Twice

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating two burglaries that have recently occurred at Cromer School and are requesting assistance from the community in identifying and locating potential suspects.

The first burglary occurred sometime between the evening of Wednesday, November 19, 2014 and the morning of Thursday, November 20, 2014. The second burglary occurred sometime between the evening of Friday, November 21, 2014 and the morning of Monday, November 24, 2014. Both burglaries occurred in the FACTS building which houses Cromer’s after school program. The FACTS building is a structure that is separate from the main school building. During the first burglary not only did the suspect or suspects take valuable equipment but also vandalized the interior of the structure.

Items taken during these two crimes include a portable blue ray player, a 42” LG flat screen television set, a Dell Computer, 5 Bantam Portable Radios, 4 Cobra portable radios, and cash in excess of $300.00. Several of the stolen items to include the LG television set had been purchased with funds raised by the students.

Anyone with information about these burglaries is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at (800) 338-7888 or Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111. We need your information not your name. Your information could help solve these cases.

Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Holiday Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta would like to invite residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities to the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Summit Fire Station 33, located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of Highway 89N. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

This meeting will include a holiday theme potluck dinner. Tim Dalegowski who is the Transportation Planner and Scott Tkach who is the County Engineer for Coconino County will give a presentation about the results of a traffic study on Campbell Avenue regarding the speed limit.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

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