Category Archives: Arizona

County Announces Free Wireless Hotspot in Page

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PAGE — Coconino County has installed a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing residents of Page and the surrounding areas to access internet without charge.

The hotspot is located between the Coconino County Health and Human Services Northern Region Office and Page Magistrate Court buildings at 467 Vista Avenue. A map is attached. Internet access is available throughout the entire parking lot and residents are encouraged to stay in their cars and practice social distancing. The network does not require a password and is named County WIFI.

“Broadband and internet connectivity are crucial to connect residents to work and school,” said Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler. “Many parts of our county do not have quality access to a broadband connection. Providing available and free internet access will allow the residents of Page and tribal communities to connect with job-seeking resources and focus on schoolwork during this difficult time.”

Northern Arizona University has also installed Wi-Fi hotspots for students to use throughout the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. For more information on Northern Arizona University’s Wi-Fi hotspots please visit www.nau.edu/access.

Ben Avery Shooting Facility prepares to reopen with changes

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PHOENIX — The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) soon will be open and ready for business, but with some operational changes that will affect customers.

To ensure public health and safety protocols are observed, and to maximize opportunities for all recreational shooters, only online reservations will be accepted when BASF reopens at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. The new online reservation system will be available Monday, May 11.

At this time, the shooting facility is unable to accommodate walk-in customers on its rifle and pistol ranges, as well as the Clay Target Center (CTC). Any changes will be based on gradual reopening guidelines for businesses and customers, as outlined by the Governor’s Office.

“BASF’s implementation of a new online reservation system is two-fold: We want to maximize the shooting opportunities that this world-class facility has to offer, while maintaining common sense health practices,” said Mike Raum, shooting sports branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, BASF is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges.

Public comment sought on proposed Commission Orders for raptors, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans and mollusks through June 6

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comment on proposed 2021-2025 regulations for raptors, amphibians, crustaceans and mollusks, and reptiles.

Comments will be accepted from May 8 through June 6, 2020. If warranted, public meetings on the proposed changes to these Commission Orders may be held telephonically.

The proposed Commission Orders 25, 41, 42 and 43, if approved, will be in effect for the years 2021 through 2025. The documents posted below are only for 2021, but only the year will change for the Commission Orders for each of the subsequent four years.
• Commission Order 25 – Raptors
• Commission Order 41 – Amphibians
• Commission Order 42 – Crustaceans and Mollusks
• Commission Order 43 – Reptiles

Written comments can be submitted by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Terrestrial Wildlife Branch, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086, or they can be emailed to:
• CommOrd25@azgfd.gov (Raptors)
• CommOrd41-43@azgfd.gov (Amphibians and Reptiles)
• CommOrd42@azgfd.gov (Crustaceans and Mollusks)

For more information, call (623) 236-7506.

Missing Phoenix woman located deceased

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FOREST LAKES, AZ – On April 25th at approximately 8:00am the Coconino County Sher Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle located by an officer from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The vehicle was located off a forest road near Chevelon Butte and was associated with a missing person reported by the Phoenix Police Department.

A Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, a US Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, US Forest Service firefighters, an Arizona Game and Fish Officer, and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit including search and rescue dogs, a small unmanned aerial system, and ground searchers conducted a search in the area to attempt to locate the missing person associated with the vehicle.

Searchers found several clues in the area including foot tracks and discarded clothing which focused the search effort. At approximately 5:30 p.m., an adult female was found deceased in the area by a search and rescue dog team. The investigation into the death is ongoing by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Office of the Medical Examiner.

The female identified as Britnney Fairbanks, a 28-year-old, was reported missing out of Phoenix 3-days prior to her vehicle being located by Game and Fish Officers.

Busy first week of May for Sheriff’s Department

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COCONINO COUNTY – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to an increased amount of calls for service the first weekend of May 2020. For the period of May 1st through the 3rd, 2020, Deputies responded to 661 calls for service. With the weather warming up, an increase in visitors and residents recreating outdoors was seen all over the county by the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to 584 total call for service during the previous weekend of April 24-26.

• Deputies responded to two attempted abductions of two young girls over the weekend, one in the Bellemont area and one in Kaibab Estates West. Both victims escaped and the Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the suspects.

• Deputies throughout the county responded to multiple reports of campfires and two reported wildfires.

• With a large portion of Lake Powell being closed, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Boat Patrol unit, which is based out of the Page area, patrolled Lake Mary over the weekend. The Boat Patrol was assisted by Sheriff’s Patrol Volunteers and AZ Game and Fish and spend Saturday and Sunday educating people on boating safety.

• Coconino Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams responded to three search missions which occurred in Blue Ridge, on the San Francisco Peaks and in the Cinder Lakes recreation area. The search and rescue missions ranged from exhausted hikers, to missing hunters and overdue recreationists.

The chart below shows a comparison of some of the more common types of calls during the two weekends.

Page City Officials Planning, Preparing for Reopening

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PAGE – City of Page officials are formulating plans in preparation for re-opening our government and community while adhering to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Ducey’s office.

Retail vendors were permitted to begin curbside service on May 4th. Yesterday, Governor Ducey provided additional guidance on re-opening businesses in Arizona. On May 8th, salons and barbershops can reopen with limited occupancy and following other guidelines from the CDC.

On May 11th, dine-in restaurants will be allowed to re-open, again following guidelines from the CDC. City government offices are preparing for staff to move back to the workplace on a metered basis over the next few weeks that will allow adherence to social distancing guidelines in order to ensure employee wellness.

More information is available at: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/05/governor-ducey-adhs-release-guidelines-retail-businesses-and-customers.

Further information from the CDC on Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html.

Attempted Abductions in Bellemont and Ash Fork Areas

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Flagstaff, AZ – On May 2 and 3, 2020, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to two different reports of abduction attempts on young females. One was in the residential area of Bellemont, west of Flagstaff off Interstate 40, and the second was in Kaibab Estates West, west of Williams, Arizona off Interstate 40.

The Bellemont incident occurred on May 2, 2020 around 6:00 pm in the area of Deer Springs and Greenfield. An unknown male subject approached and grabbed the victim, an 11-year-old girl. The suspect let the girl go when she screamed. The victim ran away from the suspect to her home and reported the incident. A Code Red was issued alerting community members. Multiple agencies responded to the area and conducted a search for the suspect but did not locate him. The suspect was described as a dark-complexioned male with long dark hair and a goatee. At the time of the Bellemont incident, he was wearing a black shirt. The suspect left on foot and there was no vehicle description.

The Kaibab Estates West incident occurred on May 3, 2020 around 2:00 pm near Hillside Dr. and Rincon Dr. The driver of a blue van offered a 15-year-old girl a ride. When she declined the ride and exited his vehicle, the suspect grabbed her by the arm and attempted to pull her into the vehicle. The 15-year-old fought back, striking the man in the face and was able to run to a nearby friend’s residence. A Code Red was issued alerting community members. Multiple agencies responded to the area and conducted a search for the suspect and vehicle, but neither were located. The suspect left the area in what the victim described as a blue minivan with a dent possibly in one of the doors. The suspect was described as a white male, 30 to 40 years of age, with short light-colored buzzed hair, slender and 5’10 to 6’ in height.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who has information about either incident, anyone who may have seen person(s) or vehicles matching the descriptions, or anyone who may have seen something suspicious, please call the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at (928) 774-4523, option 1 or Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111.

California child abductor arrested in Golden Valley

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GOLDEN VALLEY – On April 22, 2020 the U.S. Marshals Service led Arizona WANTED Violent Offenders Task Force, working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), arrested a dangerous fugitive and recovered a missing child in Golden Valley, Arizona.

“Armed fugitives that have abducted a child and is defiant to lawful orders places the community and law enforcement in harm’s way and must remain a priority,” said United States Marshal David Gonzales. “The US Marshals led task force members were joined by local and federal agencies who executed a plan that safely took custody of the child before arresting Messner, who will now be sent to California to answer for his crimes.”

On April 5, Dustin Messner, 37, abducted his eight-year-old son from Stockton, Calif. An arrest warrant was issued for Messner, who was being charged with Child Custody Deprivation. California law enforcement immediately began an investigation to determine the whereabouts of both father and son. The ensuing investigation revealed that Messner fled the state of California.

During his two weeks on the run, Messner made numerous comments and posts to his social media accounts expressing his belief that man’s law had no authority over him and that he would not be returning his son. Messner also made several threats to any law enforcement who attempted to take his son from him. These posts included video of firearms assumed to be in Messner’s possession.

On April 20, the District Attorney Investigator’s Office in San Joaquin County, CA, requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating and apprehending Messner. On April 22, members of the U.S. Marshals Service District of Arizona-Flagstaff Division and the ATF conducted an apprehension and recovery operation at a home on Joseph Drive in Golden Valley, AZ. That evening, task force members arrested Messner and safely recovered the missing boy before turning him over to Child Protective Services.

Dustin Messner was transported to the Mohave County Detention Center while he awaits extradition back to San Joaquin County, CA. His son was happily reunited with his mother on April 23.

Arrest Made in Sasha Krause Homicide Case

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FLAGSTAFF – On April 21, 2020 around 9:20 am, Detectives from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office accompanied by Detectives from San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico served search warrants and arrested Mark Gooch at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, AZ for the homicide of Sasha Krause. Sasha Krause had been reported as a missing person from the Mennonite Community in Farmington, NM in January 2020. She was located deceased in Coconino County in February 2020.

Detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, through their investigation, learned that during the time Sasha Krause went missing, Gooch had traveled from Luke Air Force Base, where he lives, to Farmington, New Mexico. Further investigation placed Gooch near Sunset Crater in Coconino County where Krause’s body was located.

Multiple state and federal agencies worked together on this investigation which led to the arrest of Gooch. Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll would like to thank San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari and his staff for their ongoing coordinated efforts in the investigation, the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab, Glendale Police Department, Office of Special Investigation Detachment 421, U.S. Air Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation is still on going, and no further information is available at this time.

Forest Service Takes Steps to Reduce Human Caused Wildfire during Global Pandemic

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ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Southwestern Region is enacting a campfire ban to protect the health and safety of employees and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning April 22, igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire will be prohibited on all six national forests in Arizona until June 30, 2020, or until rescinded.

Forest Service officials are taking the necessary steps to ensure first responders are available to safely respond and manage incidents. This campfire restriction will prevent the drawdown of fire and medical resources to unwanted human-caused wildfires and reduce firefighter exposure to COVID-19 during the current pandemic.

“While we know that going outside provides forest and grassland visitors needed space, exercise and satisfaction, we are taking the risks presented by COVID-19 seriously,” said Acting Regional Forester Elaine Kohrman. “We are providing some recreation opportunities where we can while protecting and keeping employees, the public and our communities safe from the virus and unwanted human-caused wildfires.”

The following is prohibited under the April 22 campfire ban order:

Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves.

Violating the campfire ban may result in an appearance in federal court, fines, and possible time in jail. Forest visitors will still be able to use pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials. While these restrictions are in place, the majority of the six national forests in Arizona are still open, and dispersed camping – outside of developed campsites – and other recreation opportunities are available.

Visit the Interactive Visitor Map at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ivm for more information on available activities. For additional information on COVID-19, go to https://www.coronavirus.gov. Information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is available at: www.usda.gov/coronavirus. Information on public lands use in Arizona is available at https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona/