Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for Computer Child Pornography

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WILLIAMS – On 12/20/18 Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the Red Lake neighborhood, 9 miles north of the city of Williams.

Sheriff’s Office detectives received information that a resident in the Red Lake Neighborhood was possibly in possession of child pornography on a personal computer at his residence. During the investigation the subject turned over a computer, which was examined by a Sheriff’s Office Computer Forensics Investigator. After securing a search warrant to examine the computer, the investigator located several images consistent with child pornography on that computer.

After confirming the presence of the images on the initial computer, another search warrant was obtained to search the residence for additional devices. During the search of the residence, additional computers and electronic devices were seized. Detectives and Investigators are currently reviewing the additional items of evidence seized during the search warrant and additional charges could result. If anyone has information that may assist this investigation they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

Charles Henry Hightower, 83, was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Hightower was released to Pre-Trial Services on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

Rescue off Humphreys Peak

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FLAGSTAFF – An injured hiker was rescued off Humphreys Peak by Coconino County Search and Rescue and Arizona Snowbowl.

On November 12 at approximately 9:20am the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call about an injured hiker above the Humphrey’s Saddle on the Humphrey’s Peak Trail. A party of three hikers from Flagstaff reported that they were hiking the trail when one slipped on some ice and sustained a shoulder injury. The hikers reported the injured person could not walk and requested a helicopter to pick them up. As Search and Rescue teams were responding, the Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue helicopter responded and visually located the hikers but was unable to assist with the rescue due to the high winds. The temperature on the ridge at 12,000 feet near where the hikers were located, was 17 degrees with winds of 56 miles per hour.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Guardian Medical Transport personnel were transported by Arizona Snowbowl Snow Cats to the Midway catwalk to access the Humphrey’s Peak Trail.

At approximately 12:30pm rescuers reached the hiking party and began to treat the injured hiker. The injured hiker’s arm was splinted and he was assisted in hiking down the trail. The Sheriff’s Office Snow Cat was used to transport the hikers and rescuers from the Midway Catwalk back to the Agassiz Lodge. The injured hiker refused additional medical care.

The hikers were identified as 24-year-old NAU student Salvatore Bonanno, 20-year-old Coconino Community College student Christian Matthew and 19-year-old Coconino Community College student Ethan Murray. The group had started the hike at 4:30 am. When interviewed after the rescue, the group told rescue personnel they had checked the weather and felt prepared for the hike. The hikers had minimal outer wear, clothing and gear for the conditions they faced.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind those recreating in the winter backcountry to be prepared for the conditions. Hikers on the San Francisco Peaks can involve encountering snow, ice, and windy conditions on the trail and especially above tree line. Appropriate clothing and equipment is necessary to recreate safely in these conditions. Cotton clothing should not be worn as when it gets wet it does not dry easily or quickly and can lead to hypothermia for the wearer. Instead, synthetic or wool clothing should be chosen. Appropriate footwear is also a necessity. In addition to quality hiking boots, crampons may be needed for hard packed and icy conditions. An ice axe may be needed to assist in travel on steep and icy slopes.

Rescue of Injured Climber at Oak Creek Vista

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FLAGSTAFF — On November 10, 2018 at approximately 2:45 pm, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a climbing accident at Oak Creek Vista off of State Route 89A.

Multiple agencies responded to assist in the rescue of the injured climber. A 34-year-old female from Phoenix, AZ had sustained multiple serious injuries, including a back injury, when she fell approximately 40 feet as she began her rappel. Due to the location of the patient and the nature of her injuries, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Sedona Fire District Technical Rope Team members established a technical rope system to lower a rescuer and basket litter to the patient. Highlands Fire and Guardian Medical personnel, along with a Deputy Sheriff, had hiked to the patient’s location to provide initial treatment and help prepare the patient to be raised by the rope system.

Due to the extent of climber’s injuries and difficult terrain, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue helicopter was called in to determine if a short-haul operation would be feasible. After determining a short haul operation was in the best interest of rescuers and the injured climber, a Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator, who also is a member of the Northern Arizona Regional Heli-Rescue Team, and the climber were short-hauled to the Oak Creek Vista parking lot. From there, the climber was transferred to a Guardian Air Transport helicopter and was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

This incident was another example of the close working relationships between Northern Arizona public safety agencies.

Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Hiker on Mt Elden

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Coconino SAR rescue Mt Elden hiker – CCSO photo

FLAGSTAFF — On October 21 at approximately 2:53 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Mount Elden Trail and Sunset Trail for the report of an injured adult female hiker incapable of extricating herself.

The adult female hiker from Kayenta was reported to have a lower leg injury that made her unable to continue her hike. Bystanders provided aid until emergency responders arrived at the scene. Emergency responders hiked to the patient’s location and initiated care while Search and Rescue hiked in with a litter, litter wheel, and warming blankets to assist with carrying her out.

The Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter had been staged at the top of Mount Elden. The patient arrived at the top of Mount Elden and was transferred to the helicopter at approximately 6:00 pm and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center for additional treatment.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Guardian Medical Transport, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue Unit responded to the injured hiker on the Mount Elden Lookout Trail near the intersection with the Sunset Trail.

This incident highlights the close working relationship between local public safety agencies to respond to and resolve rescue situations. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the hikers who rendered aid prior to our arrival and remind hikers to be prepared for the unexpected emergency on the trail by carrying at least the Ten Essentials in addition to a charged cell phone.

  1. extra water
  2. extra food
  3. extra warm clothing
  4. navigation equipment
  5. headlamp or flashlight
  6. first aid kit
  7. shelter material (large leaf bag or emergency blanket)
  8. fire starting kit
  9. pocket knife
  10. signaling equipment (whistle/signal mirror)

Amateur radio operators should have local repeaters programmed into their radios. The Mount Elden repeater is 146.980 (162.2 tone – offset), the Bill Williams Mountain repeater is 146.780 (91.5 tone – offset) and the RIMLINK repeater is 146.140 (162.2 tone + offset).

Coconino Sheriff’s Investigating Human Remains Found

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating human remains found in the area west of Highway 89N, just south of the Navajo Nation boundary.

On October 7, 2018 around 9:00 a.m., hunters reported finding human remains near Cedar Wash and the Navajo Nation boundary. After the initial responding deputies confirmed the remains as human, Sheriff’s detectives and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the area for further investigation.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, the location and condition of the remains leads investigators to believe the remains may be those of Jackie McClellan Jr, who was reported as a Missing Person in December 2007. At that time, the family had reported that Jackie McClellan Jr had last been seen walking from the family’s sheep camp. The remains were found in the same general area as the sheep camp.

Positive identification of the remains is still pending by the Coconino Medical Examiner.

Tusayan Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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TUSAYAN – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a Neighborhood Watch meeting for the Tusayan area on Thursday, October 11 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Tusayan Fire Station located at 408 West State Route 64, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.

FRAUD ALERT – Phone Call with Person Posing as Sheriff Deputy

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is getting reports of fraudulent phone calls in which the person is claiming to be a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy and claiming to be calling about an outstanding warrant. The person goes on to say that you need to pay to take care of the outstanding warrant. THIS IS A SCAM – DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM!

Unfortunately – Phone Scams have become a part of everyday life – so protect yourself by being informed.

  • Scammers often pose as real people affiliated with financial institutes, police officers, court officers, utility companies, credit card company, IRS, computer company, voter registration agency, a distant relative in need of help, etc. – they often use “authority” type positions to “bully” and “scare” people into falling victim to their scam. DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR DATE OF BIRTH, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH A LEGITIMATE AGENT.
  • Scammers also use “feel good” scams and pose as a volunteer asking for donations for a charity, as a company offering you a prize, as a lawyer trying to contact you over an inheritance, as an agency offering to help you fix your credit. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE VARIATIONS OF SCAMS THEY COME UP WITH – IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS
  • Scammers often “spoof” phone numbers to show up on caller ID to look like they are legitimate agency or local numbers
  • Scammers often ask for payment through Green Dot, Gift Cards, Smart Cards – The Sheriff’s Office would never ask you to pay a fine in this way. If they ask that payment be mailed to an address or post office box, you can confirm using the phone book or official web page of the agency if it is a legitimate address of the agency
  • Be very careful not to give out your personal information – even guard your phone number. Many phone apps actually access all of your contact information (the little “I accept” fine print when you download an app) which then gives an app developer access to information on your phone which they may then sell – This allows scammers to know your network of friends and to pose as them.
  • Be wary of calling back the number listed on caller ID (or replying to a text message) unless you can verify it’s legitimate. For example – you would want to use the phone number on the back of your credit card rather than a phone number provider by a caller to confirm whether what the caller told you was legitimate
  • Use Government pages in the phone book or the agency’s official website to get the official phone number to call back.

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO PHONE SCAMS

PROTECT YOURSELF:

  1. – Ask for written information
  2. – Ask a lot of questions
  3. – Check out the company on the Better Business Bureau
  4. – Tell the caller to put you on their do not call list
  5. – DO NOT SEND a check, cash, money wire, or give out your account information to anyone insisting immediate payment with which you did not initiate the contact

REPORT SCAMS TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

Coconino County Sheriff Investigating Single Vehicle Fatality Accident on Ashurst Road

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FLAGSTAFF – On September 28th at 10:53pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a single vehicle accident with multiple injuries involving four occupants on FS 82E (Ashurst Lake Road).

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies from Flagstaff, Mormon Lake Fire Department and Guardian Medical responded to Mile Post 0.5 on Forest Service Rd 82E. Reports indicated that a white Ford ½-ton pickup had gone off the road striking a tree on the driver’s side of the vehicle near the back-passenger door area, and that all four occupants were injured.

Upon arriving on scene, first responders found the passenger who was riding behind the driver had sustained traumatic injuries from the vehicle’s impact with the tree. The victim, Justin Denault, age 19 of Imperial, CA, was transported by Guardian Medical to Flagstaff Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The victim was later transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.

The other three passengers also were transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center where they were treated and released for lesser injuries.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is still on going. Sheriff’s Office investigators will be at the accident location the remainder of the day conducting scene investigation. More information will be made available as the investigation continues.

Missing Person Andrew Bauer Found Deceased

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Andrew Bauer who was found deceased in the Baderville area. Andrew had been reported as a missing person on September 17, 2018.

On September 20, 2018, a person reported finding the body of a deceased person under a tree near a road bordering Baderville and the forest. Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene for further investigation, and the body was transported by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

On September 21, 2018 the deceased was positively identified as 18-year-old Andrew Bauer.

His death is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Public Health Services District Medical Examiner’s Office, however indicators exist that lead detectives to believe suicide may be a factor.

Missing Two-Year Old in Happy Jack Area Located Safe

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Coconino Sheriff Photo

Flagstaff – After several hours of searching, emergency responders located a two-year old boy who had wandered away from a family campsite in the Happy Jack, AZ area.

On September 21, 2018 around 9:45 am, a two-year old boy was reported as missing from his family’s campsite in the Happy Jack, AZ area. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office managed the search efforts and was assisted by several Northern Arizona agencies including, Coconino Sheriff Search and Rescue, US Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish, Arizona Department of Public Safety. A Search and Rescue Dog Team and an AZ Department of Public Safety helicopter were deployed as part of the search efforts.

Search and Rescue personnel located the boy approximately ½ mile from the place he was last seen. He was walking and appeared to be responding to the calling out of his name by the searchers.
We are happy to report the boy and his family have been reunited. We express gratitude to the other agencies and personnel who assisted in the search.