Category Archives: Law Enforcement

Man shot and killed near Flagstaff Walmart

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FLAGSTAFF — At about 2:06 this morning, Ashley Martin entered the Walmart on South Woodlands Village Boulevard and asked employees to call the Flagstaff Police. When police arrived, Ms. Martin informed them that she had shot someone.

According to the police report, she led officers to the nearby urban trail between Walmart and Beulah Blvd. The woman told police that she and the man had been involved in an altercation that ended with the fatal shooting of the man identified as Travis Nelson.

The woman was taken to the Flagstaff Police Department for questioning. Detectives responded to the scene to investigate. Ashley Martin was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility.

Homicide Victim Located on Forest Service Road 776

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FLAGSTAFF – On April 27th, 2021, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received information from Milwaukie Police Department in Oregon of a possible missing and endangered female traveling with a male subject last known to be in the Flagstaff area.

Working with the Milwaukie Police Department, Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to ascertain a possible location where the couple may have been camping. The area indicated was Forest Service Road 776 off Highway 89, north of Fernwood. Deputies responding to the area began contacting campers and handing out flyers of the male and female. From the flyer, a camper recognized the female and identified a camping location where the female and male subject were last seen. In investigating the location, the body of a female was found deceased. The female victim has been identified as 38-year-old Melisa Rose Wheeler, of Oregon.

Crime scene – CCSO Photo

Wheeler was last known to be traveling with Benjamin Mota, a resident of Oregon, on vacation. Mota returned to Oregon in the victim’s vehicle where he was taken into custody on unrelated charges. Evidence gathered during the initial investigation resulted in a 2nd Degree Homicide warrant for Mota’s arrest. Extradition efforts will be pursued. Mota is currently being held on a one-million-dollar cash bond.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Milwaukie Police Department, the Coconino County Attorney’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office for their assistance and efforts during this investigation.

Sheriff CSI van – CCSO Photo

The investigation is ongoing by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No other information is available at this time.

Sheriff’s Office Deputies Respond to Fatal Structure Fire at Rose Well Camp

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SELIGMAN – On 04/10/21 at 3:08 PM Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of an explosion at Rose Well Camp, north west of Seligman on the Boquillas Ranch. Reports indicated a ranch house had caught fire after the explosion and was spreading to adjacent structures and brush. Seligman Fire Department responded to suppress the fire.

Ranch staff from Rose Well Camp observed a column of smoke and responded to the camp to investigate. Upon arriving they found one of the camp houses engulfed in flames.

They observed a vehicle, belonging to the ranch staff member who lived in the house, parked near the south porch. While Seligman Fire personnel were extinguishing the flames, human remains were located in the burnt structure.

The fire spread to several adjacent structures, to include a historic hay barn, which was destroyed by fire as well. Once the fire was extinguished, detectives processed the scene and identified human remains which were later removed by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The cause of the reported explosion/fire and death of the unidentified human remains are being investigated by Sheriff’s Office Investigators and the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Man Arrested for Starting Wildland Fire in Blue Ridge Area

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BLUE RIDGE – On April 9, 2021 Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to Highway 87 near the Hwy 260 junction for a report of a wildland fire.

Upon arrival, the deputy interviewed a witness that said they were driving along the highway and saw a fire in the forested area. Upon seeing the fire, the witness stopped and attempted extinguish the fire.

During this process, the witness noticed a suspicious person, later identified as Adam Gilliam, a 29-year-old man from Oregon, near the fire.

Shortly after, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper arrived and detained the suspicious person.
During the deputy’s interview with Gilliam, he admitted to starting the fire with a lighter he had in his possession. Fire resources were able to successfully extinguish the fire, which was described as approximately 30 feet in diameter.

Gilliam was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for Illegal Burning of Wildland and Refusing to Provide a Truthful name.

Zipline fire quickly extinguished

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1961 Thunderbird used for display at Zipline.

WILLIAMS — At approximately 7:30 p.m., Williams Police and Fire units were dispatched to a reported vehicle fire at the Zipline in Williams. Before they arrived, it was reported that the vehicle fire was extinguished, but WFD responded to ensure that it was out.

The vehicle was the red 1961 Thunderbird that is used as a display when the Zipline is open. The owners were attempting to start it when a fire occurred in the engine. The owner quickly extinguished the flame with a fire extinguisher the Zipline has on hand. Their quick action prevented the vehicle from becoming a total loss.

The Williams Fire Department responded to ensure the fire was completely out and stayed on hand for safety.

There were no injuries.

Williams Fire Department called in to make sure fire extinguished.

Coconino County’s Detention Services Commander Matthew Figueroa receives Appointment to AZPOST

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FLAGSTAFF — Congratulations to Commander Matthew Figueroa who has been appointed by Governor Ducey to the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).

AZPOST is composed of 13 members and stands to foster public trust and confidence by establishing and maintaining standards of integrity, competence, and professionalism for Arizona peace officers and correctional officers.

AZPOST was established in 1968 to address the need for minimum peace officer selection, recruitment, retention and training standards, and to provide curriculum and standards for all certified law enforcement training facilities.

Commander Matthew Figueroa has served as Detention Services Commander of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office since 2014. In his current role as Detention Commander, he provides administrative leadership, supervision, training and direction, and assignment of duties to over 150 detention personnel and supervisors in the daily operations of a 596-bed facility.

Commander Figueroa also served as associate faculty with Coconino County Community College instructing students in the areas of Administrative Justice. He has served in detention since 1996 as a detention officer, and recently received the JAILCON 20/20 Detention Administrator of the Year award.

Sheriff Jim Driscoll is proud to have representation from his Command Staff on the AZPOST Board and grateful to Governor Ducey for recognizing Commander Matthew Figueroa for this prestigious
appointment.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office investigating possible kidnapping

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Blue Ridge — On 12/15/2020 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to locate a male suspect and female victim who was reportedly forced into a vehicle south of Flagstaff, Arizona, along Interstate 17 in the late morning hours.

At 1157 hours the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Mustang Gas Station at Clint’s Wells along Hwy 87, reporting the vehicle involved from the incident on I-17 in the area. The caller reported a female passenger strapped/tied to the front passenger seat in a white in colored 4dr Jeep Wrangler with a black top. The reporting party then followed the suspect vehicle south along Highway 87 from Clint’s Wells until the suspect turned off on to Forest Service Road 141 east.

The Reporting party obtained and reporting the vehicle information to the 911 dispatch center. The vehicle returned to a subject out of Scottsdale, Arizona. During the investigation it was learned a Brandon Thomas Stewart of Scottsdale, was in possession of the vehicle in question.

Pings on the phone lead the Sheriff’s Office, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Public Safety Helicopter to begin Searching the area east of Highway 87 and north of Forest Service road 300.

Later in the evening the suspect vehicle was located, and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted by DPS and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office at mile post 283 on Interstate 40.

The driver Brandon Stewart was taken into custody without incident and the female victim was located uninjured. Brandon Stewart was transported to the Navajo County Detention facility and booked on charges of Unlawful Imprisonment. Further charges are pending.

This incident is still under investigation and no further information is currently available. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety for their assistance in this incident.

Mule deer buck poached and left to waste in Heber

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HEBER — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is seeking information about the recent poaching of an adult mule deer buck near Heber, Arizona. The mule deer buck was found near Borrow Tank off Forest Road 210 in Game Management Unit 4B. It had been shot with a firearm and left to waste on either Oct. 24 or 25, 2020.

“The public will play a vital role in finding who is responsible,” said AZGFD Wildlife Manager Justin Winter. “This is not the act of a hunter. Poaching is a crime. It is stealing wildlife from the citizens of Arizona. It is important for anyone with information to come forward and help Game and Fish bring those responsible to justice.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700, or visit www.azgfd.gov/ogt, and refer to case #20-003559. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,500 from AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Program. All callers are confidential and can remain anonymous upon request.

Inmate Death

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FLAGSTAFF – On Friday July 31, 2020, at approximately 2:11 pm, an inmate from the Coconino County Detention Facility died while at Flagstaff Medical Center.

On July 29, 2020 a local law enforcement agency was initiating the booking process into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Temporary Holding Facility in Page, AZ. During the booking process, the arrestee refused to answer any medical related questions asked by our Detention Officers. Our Officers noticed a laceration on the arrestee’s finger that appeared red, swollen, and hot to the touch. Our Officers contacted the Detention medical staff in Flagstaff, relayed the information, and the arrestee was refused acceptance.

The arresting agency transported the arrestee to the Page Emergency Department. The arrestee refused all medical treatment while at the hospital. Ultimately the arrestee was transported back to the holding facility. Again, the arrestee refused to answer all medical questions and refused to allow vitals to be checked by our officers. Detention staff contacted the Detention Medical staff in Flagstaff, explained the arrestee’s refusal for treatment at the hospital and the refusal to answer medical questions and vitals to be checked. Because we had documentation that the arrestee had refused medical treatment and refused to answer our medical questions, our medical staff advised our officers to accept the arrestee. The arrestee was processed and booked into the Page holding facility.

On Friday morning, July 31, 2020, the inmate was on a transport from Page to be housed in the Flagstaff Facility pending further adjudication. While on transport the inmate began to have a medical related emergency. Our Detention Officers pulled over, contacted dispatch, requested emergency services and began life savings measures. Emergency Medical Services responded, took over life saving measures and transported the inmate to the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). The inmate was taken into emergency surgery and came out of surgery at approximately 1:00 pm. At 2:11 pm our officers guarding the inmate at FMC notified Sheriff’s Command staff that the inmate was deceased.

The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and pending autopsy and review by the Coconino County Medical Examiner. The name of the inmate and any further information is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Coconino County Sheriff’s SAR Member & CERT Team Receive GEMS Awards

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was honored by having its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and one of its Search and Rescue members, Dennis Gill, recognized by the Flagstaff GEMS Citywide Volunteer Recognition group, which was presented by the Civic Service Institute at NAU.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office CERT Team was awarded the GEMs 2020 “Civic Organization of the Year “award. CERT was recognized for its effort and work during the Museum Fire during the summer of 2019. CERT provided over 40 volunteers during the emergency working in support of multiple local government agencies.

CERT worked in the Call Center taking over 1500+ calls keeping residence and visitors informed on the latest information about the fire, closures and restrictions. CERT supported City and County Law Enforcement assisting with contacting residences in the fire threatened areas during pre-evacuation, evacuation and re -entry stages. CERT also assisted with neighborhood notifications for community meetings going door to door in flood threatened areas passing out flyers informing residence of upcoming meetings. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office CERT team has been supported and sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office since 2004 and comprised of 140+ members spread throughout the county.

Dennis Gill a 36-year member of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team was recognized as the GEMS 2020 “Volunteer of the Year.” Dennis over his career has responded to over 1000 missions and impacted hundreds of lives.

Over Dennis’s Career he has been the leader of the Technical Rescue, Dennis was one of the first members of the “Northern Arizona Interagency Helicopter Rescue Team”. Dennis also served multiple terms on the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Board of Directors where he helped to manage funds, develop and facilitate training to help improve the capabilities of the team. His expertise and knowledge is counted on frequently to help manage and respond to incidents around the county.