The multi-agency search efforts for the suspect who fired shots at a forest service employee earlier today will continue through the night.
We continue to ask the public to maintain caution and awareness in the area. If you do not need to be in the area, you are asked to stay out of the area. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is urged to contact law enforcement – 911 or Silent Witness (Coconino County Silent Witness phone: 928-774-6111).
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the suspect in a shooting in the Forest Lakes area. Canyon Point Campground has been evacuated and Code Red has been used for notification of citizens in the Forest Lakes area. There currently is a two-mile radius closure of the area including a 2000-foot air space closure. See the attached photo of the suspect.
On July 3 at approximately 6:00 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and US Forest Service responded to eight small brush fires in an area known as Pond Circle in Forest Lakes, AZ. Residents reported seeing a dark complexion male wearing a royal blue shirt, with a long sleeve white shirt underneath in the area. Personnel in the area attempted to locate the possible suspect.
On July 4 at approximately 10:20 am, a forest service employee was checking the area approximately ¼ mile south of Canyon Point Campground when he came across an individual matching the description from the fires. The suspect pulled a handgun on the forest service employee. As the employee was trying to back away, the suspect fired several rounds at him. As the employee ran to his truck, the suspect fired additional rounds at him using a shotgun. The forest service employee was not injured and was able to escape the area and call law enforcement.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is actively looking for the suspect. Other agencies assisting include Arizona Department of Public Safety SWAT and Air Ranger, FBI SWAT, Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Forest Service fire and law enforcement personnel, Forest Lakes Fire Department, Arizona Game and Fish, White Mountain Apache Police Department, and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about this crime or suspect is encouraged to call 911 or Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Please do not approach the subject but notify your local law enforcement agency.
HAVASUPAI – On Saturday, July 1 at approximately 1:13 p.m., Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a downed hiker on the Havasu Canyon Trail near Hilltop in Havasupai. A 32-year-old male from Utah was hiking out of the canyon with several others when he collapsed.
While Deputies from the Williams District and medics were responding, the victim was aided by other hikers who were able to put the victim on a horse and get him to the Hilltop area.
CPR was performed by bystanders until Tristate Care Flight arrived on scene. Tristate advised the subject was unable to be revived.
The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and transported the deceased to Flagstaff. The cause and manner of death are under review by the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
PAGE – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in Operation Dry Water as part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence (BUI). The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with alcohol and drug use on our waterways.
Operation Dry Water weekend, June 30-July 2, is the national weekend of amplified enforcement of boating under the influence laws and recreational boater outreach. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to our community and to the entire recreational boating community as part of the yearlong Operation Dry Water campaign to inform and educate boaters about the hazards and negative outcomes associated with boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Recreational boating is a fun and enjoyable activity. Consuming alcohol while on the water can hinder that experience and create a dangerous scenario for you, your friends and family, and others on the water. Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time on the water just as is does when driving a car, even more so because of the added stressors of sun, heat, wind, noise and the vibrations of the boat. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office wants everyone to have a great summer on the water, and to do that you’ve got to stay safe and stay sober while underway.
As Operation Dry Water weekend and Independence Day approaches, law enforcement will be out on the water educating boaters about safe boating practices and removing impaired operators from the water. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office supports these efforts as they go a long way in ensuring the safety of recreational boaters and water sport enthusiasts.
Tips to staying safe on the water:
Boaters can take the pledge to boat safe and boat sober, and find more information about boating under the influence at operationdrywater.org.
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit responded to three incidents over the weekend.
The first occurred on Saturday June 24, 2017 at approximately 3:00 pm and involved the rescue of an adult male with a knee injury located just below the Humphrey’s Saddle on the Humphrey’s Peak Trail. The Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Guardian Medical Transport responded and were assisted by Arizona Snowbowl Security personnel. The patient, who was from Flagstaff, was assisted in walking out to a waiting UTV which brought him to an ambulance staged in the parking lot. He was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center.
On Sunday June 25, 2017 at approximately 2:00 pm the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue responded to a report of two adults and two children stranded in heavy rain and hail on the Waterline Road between the Abineau and Bear Jaw trails. The hikers were not equipped with the appropriate clothing for the stormy conditions and were requesting rescue. SAR units responded to the area. The hikers in distress made contact with other hikers on the trail who helped them back to the Bear Jaw trail head where they were located by a Deputy Sheriff. All of the hikers were cold and wet but in otherwise good condition and did not require any further medical care. The family was from the Phoenix area.
At approximately 6:30 pm on Sunday June 25, 2017, the Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Guardian Medical Transport responded to a report of a fall injury on the Elden Lookout Trail below the junction with the Sunset Trail. The adult male hiker had suffered a shoulder injury and required rescue. Guardian Medical Transport personnel made contact with the patient and initiated care. Guardian and Search and Rescue personnel assisted in walking the patient out to the ambulance staged near the Mt. Elden Lookout Tower. The patient, who is a Flagstaff resident, was then transported to Flagstaff Medical Center.
Search and Rescue would like to remind hikers to be prepared for quickly changing weather conditions and unexpected emergencies while on the trail. Preparation includes being aware of the weather forecast and carrying the appropriate equipment and clothing for the conditions. In many backcountry locations rescuers may be hours away and outdoor users need to be able to care for themselves while the rescuers are responding. Search and Rescue recommends carrying the following
“Ten Essentials” in addition to a cell phone:
1. Extra water
2. Extra food
3. Extra clothing for the conditions
4. Navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS)
5. Headlamp/Flashlight
6. First Aid Kit
7. Shelter material (such as space blanket or large leaf bag)
8. Fire starting kit (during summer months when fire danger is high be extremely careful with fire)
9. Pocket knife/multi-tool
10. Signaling tools (whistle/signal mirror)
Another option to consider is getting an amateur radio license in the event you get in an area outside cell phone range.
TUBA CITY – At approximately 8:30 am yesterday, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received information from Navajo Police Department in Tuba City of an armed barricaded subject at the Pasture Canyon Apartments belonging to the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation.
54-year old Allen Lynch, Jr. had barricaded himself in his residence after a domestic disturbance involving a discharge of a firearm and threats to a family member. Due to the involvement of a firearm in a residential neighborhood, a number of residents were evacuated.
Navajo Police requested the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office respond because the incident involved non-native individuals making it the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office.
Over 7 hours of negotiations with the subject ensued afterwhich a robot from the Flagstaff Police Department was used to enter the residence where Mr. Lynch was located. The Tactical Team was able to secure the residence and take Mr. Lynch into custody.
Mr. Lynch was transported to the Tuba City Regional Health Care for medical evaluation and later booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility in Flagstaff under charges including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Disorderly Conduct with a Firearm, and Criminal Damage.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Navajo Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police/Coconino Sheriff Tactical Team, Guardian Air based out of Tuba City, and Security Personnel from Tuba City Regional Health Care.
Pomeroy Tank Rescue
Sheriff’s Office personnel and EMS personnel located the patient who was suffering from serious injuries. Due to the injuries and the location of the incident, a short haul rescue was performed and the subject was then transported to a waiting air ambulance.
The short haul rescue involved connecting the patient and a rescuer to a rope suspended 150 feet below the helicopter and then flying a short distance to an area suitable for transferring the patient to another helicopter for transport to the hospital. The patient, a 47-year-old male from Phoenix, was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center.
On Monday June 12, 2017 at approximately 8:30 am the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and Guardian Medical Transport responded to a report of a hiker who was injured in a fall in Walnut Canyon near the Canyon Vista Campground.
The adult male hiker was located by paramedics from Guardian Medical and assessed for injuries. Search and Rescue personnel hiked in with a litter and litter wheel to assist with a carry out o the patient to the ambulance at the trail head. The patient, a 63-year-old male from Carrollton, Texas, was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center with serious injuries.
Havasupai, AZ – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to Beaver Falls on the Havasupai Reservation for a reported drowning on May 29, 2017. This was the second reported drowning incident in Coconino County over the Memorial Day Weekend, the first occurring at Lake Mary.
At approximately 3:00 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a request from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Havasupai to assist in response to a possible drowning. A male camper reported that another male camping with him and a group of friends had attempted to enter a cave behind the falls. The entry required diving to a depth of several feet before reaching the entrance. Another individual had also tried to enter the cave, but unable to, returned to the surface. After approximately 30 minutes, the friend had not returned and the incident was reported to tribal officials.
Air West transported a Sheriff’s Deputy to the falls to coordinate rescue / recovery events with tribal officials. By approximately 7:00 pm the body of the deceased missing person resurfaced and was recovered. The body was transported from Havasupai by DPS Ranger Helicopter to the rim where transfer was made to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The person has been identified as Mark Magleby, a 36 year-old from Orem, UT. No foul play is suspected at this time; however, the incident is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Havasupai Officials reported that there were over 250 individuals registered for use of the area that day.
Facebook
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office announce it will continue its practice of displaying a red flag at the entrance to the parking lot of the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility–911 E Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff—whenever Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the area. The flying of this red flag is an adoption of the nationwide Red Flag Warnings that are issued by the National Weather Service and meant to inform the public about the fire conditions.
Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service to indicate the imminent danger of Critical Fire Weather conditions – very low relative humidity, strong winds, and dry fuels. You can view a map of current Red Flag Warnings and other National Weather Service Hazards in Arizona by going to http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=psr. The bright pink legend indicates areas with Red Flag Warnings.
The Sheriff’s Office started this practice in June 2014. “By displaying red flags throughout our community in concurrence with the weather service Red Flag Warnings, we can help bring higher visibility to the threat of wild land fires,” said Sheriff Jim Driscoll. “We hope people will see our red flag and other red flags in the community and be reminded to take appropriate actions to avoid catastrophic wild land fires.” Sheriff Driscoll issues a challenge to other Northern Arizona government agencies and local businesses to increase community awareness of the threat of wild fires by posting a red flag on their property when an official Red Flag Warning has been issued.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone who lives in or comes to visit Northern Arizona to know about current fire hazards and restrictions and comply with any fire restrictions that may be in place. This may include restrictions on campfires or other open flames, smoking cigarettes, operating combustible engines, or other activities. Information about fire restrictions in Coconino County can be found at https://firerestrictions.us/az/az-coconino-county/
The Sheriff’s Office also encourages people to participate in the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office / Flagstaff Police Department Woods Watch Program. For more information about Woods Watch, contact Jon Paxton at (928) 226-5089.
FLAGSTAFF – A Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Volunteer conducting a holiday patrol was flagged down by a citizens yesterday at approximately 3:30 p.m at Lake Mary. The citizens reported that a young male individual had been swimming near buoys located south of the boat ramp. The swimmer reportedly had some difficulty making it back to shore while approximately 100 feet from land. He was seen going beneath the water and not returning to the surface by several family members who entered the water in attempts to locate him.
Deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and US Forest Service Law Enforcement responded to the scene and entered the water in attempt to locate the victim. It was determined at that time that the depth where the victim was last seen was over 10 feet deep and visibility was very poor. These initial response units were supplemented by response from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Flagstaff Fire Department and a Department of Public Safety Helicopter. Several citizens who were in the area also assisted with the search efforts by providing the use of their boats.
Search efforts continued into the evening and at approximately 9:30 pm members of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered a body in close proximity to where the victim had last been seen.
The body of the victim identified as 18-year-old Kevin Anaya of Mesa, AZ was turned over to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. This case remains under investigation by Sheriff’s Office Detectives and the County Medical Examiner.