Fire fighters respond to a fire at the Turquoise Tepee on Route 66.
Williams Fire Fighters ensuring fire is completely out.
Williams Fire department responds to Route 66 fire
Category Archives: Williams Police Department
Zipline fire quickly extinguished
1961 Thunderbird used for display at Zipline.
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.
Sheriff’s detectives continue investigation into Williams burglaries
WILLIAMS – Detectives continue to work to positively identify stolen property recovered in the search warrants conducted last week. The suspects were using a white GMC Yukon to travel in the Valle and Red Lake neighborhoods and are thought to have burglarized at least 20-25 residences between May and November 2019. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office and the Williams Police Department also are investigating burglaries that occurred within the City of Williams. 
Detectives recovered approximately 120 items of suspected stolen property during the search warrants and are diligently working to contact potential victims to identify their property. Due to the number of burglaries and items that were recovered, this is taking some time to put together.
Christopher Tow, age 27 of Williams and Clyde Dunwoody, age 36 of Red Lake were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail last week for 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Trafficking in Stolen Property, and 1st Degree Criminal Trespass. Sheriff’s deputies worked with the Williams Police Department in making the arrests.
The case remains active and under investigation by Detectives. As the investigation continues, the Sheriff’s Office anticipates additional charges to be referred to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office.
Two Suspects in Custody on Williams Area Burglaries
WILLIAMS – On December 6, 2019 detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants in the Williams District of Coconino County and within the City of Williams. These search warrants stemmed from several burglaries that had been reported in the Red Lake and Valle neighborhoods north of Williams between May and November of 2019. During the investigation, Detectives were able to identify suspects in the case. During the execution of the search warrants, several items were located and recovered that had been reported stolen from the burglaries.
Christopher Tow, age 27 of Williams and Clyde Dunwoody, age 36 of Red Lake were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Trafficking in Stolen Property, and 1st Degree Criminal Trespass. The case remains active and under investigation, which may result in additional charges.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Williams Police Department with their assistance in this case.
Fire guts home in Williams
WILLIAMS – Three fire engines were called in to fight a fire at 418 5th Street in Williams that started about 5:45. Units from the Williams Police and Coconino County Sheriff’s Department responded for traffic control.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. There are reports that the family members are okay, but they lost one of the family dogs. The house was totally gutted.
Law Enforcement Response to Barricaded Subject – Williams
Police stand off with a suspect in a black truck.
Law enforcement are asking that the public avoid the area. We will provide further information as it becomes available.
Busy Monday morning for first responders
WILLIAMS – A busy, cold morning for first responders began with the Williams Fire Department responding to a fire at the Newpac Lumber yard at 675 Garland Prairie Road in Williams at about 4:50 a.m. 
The Williams Fire Department called for the assistance of the Sherwood Fire Department early in the fire and, with the workers at the Newpac Lumber yard, battled the blaze until about 9:10 when the fire department began overhaul procedures.
The Williams Fire Department continually sprayed foam on the burning logs as the workers used cranes to move logs. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
A slight veil of smoke covered I-40, but the impact of visibility appears to be minimum. No injuries were reported.
While the fire department was fighting this, the Ash Fork Fire Department, Department of Public Service and Lifeline Ambulance responded to a one-vehicle roll-over at mile 149 on I-40 at about 8:20 a.m. Fortunately no serious injury was reported. An investigation is ongoing.
Freeman no longer a free man
WILLIAMS – All three suspects who fled police this morning are now in custody.
At approximately 10:45 AM, a Yavapai County Sheriff K9 attempted to stop a maroon 4 door sedan for a traffic violation east I-40 in the Ash Fork area. As the vehicle failed to yield, a male passenger appeared to be thrown from the vehicle and was detained.
The k9 unit pursued the vehicle at speeds in excess of 100 mph. The vehicle apparently became disabled and pulled off at milepost 165 near the Bearizona attraction and crashed into a culvert.
One of the remaining two suspects was apprehended almost immediately at the ADOT yard on Route 66 near the Bearizona Wild Life park. The suspect identified as John Dale Freeman fired shots at deputies and fled beginning a six-hour manhunt with units of the Yavapai County and Coconino County Sheriff’s Departments, the Williams Police Department and the Department of Public Safety including the DPS helicopter. The Arizona Department of Transportation also assisted and Kaibab Forest Rangers may have also participated. None of the search party were injured in the event.
Arizona DPS helicopter flies over Williams searching for suspect.
Schools in Williams were locked down as was Bearizona. Guests of Bearizona were gathered in the Gift Shop and Restaurant area for a couple of hours. They were eventually allowed to evacuate the park. Parents of Williams were required to pick up their kids from schools early and kids in outlying areas were bused home at the regular time.
Freeman in custody.
Various reports of sightings of Freeman occurred in Williams with none being confirmed. The search continued in the forested areas around Bearizona until about 3:30 p.m. when Freeman was reported captured outside of Bearizona. The other two suspects have not yet been identified.
Freeman turns from camera while in police vehicle.
Citizens around Williams reported recognizing Freeman as frequenting the Williams area. Others in Flagstaff reported on the Facebook page of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department that they recognized him around Flagstaff. Freeman may have lived in Williams according to some accounts. Our research shows that Freeman may have a criminal past.
High speed chase ends in crash and manhunt in Williams
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.
Accident in Williams last night
WILLIAMS — An accident occurred on 2nd Street near Sheridan Avenue last night at approximately 5:45 p.m. It appears that a white vehicle was traveling north on 2nd toward downtown when it struck the back of a black Toyota pickup. Witnesses said the white car hit hard enough to spin. Witnesses heard the accident in their homes as far as First Street.
Police arrived at about 5:50 p.m. and an ambulance was called to the scene to check out the single male occupant of the white vehicle. It did not appear that his injuries were serious enough to transport.