Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Be Prepared Before Going into the Backcountry and Understand Avalanche Hazards

Posted on by

Sunday Benham Trail 2015-12-13 007FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino National Forest are warning backcountry mountain travelers to be alert for potential avalanche hazards on the San Francisco Peaks. The early season snowpack, coupled with recent clear and cold nights, wind events, and a large amount of new snow could produce hazardous conditions in the backcountry. This includes the side country bordering the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Area.

Avalanche mitigation and patrolling is conducted within the boundaries of the Arizona Snowbowl, but there is no avalanche control or routine patrolling in the forest outside of the Snowbowl. Those traveling into the backcountry need to be prepared for and understand the conditions prior to venturing out.

Avalanches most commonly occur during a storm or within 24 hours of the storm ending. However, unstable conditions may persist long beyond that timeframe. Backcountry travelers need to understand the conditions and the warning signs of avalanche activity.

People venturing into mountainous terrain should carry avalanche rescue equipment such as a shovel, avalanche rescue beacon, avalanche probe, and winter survival gear. Good wilderness navigation and route finding skills are essential. Be prepared for travel and emergencies in the remote winter mountain environment where rescue is not immediate. Do not travel alone, and always leave a detailed trip plan with a responsible person. It is important to review recent weather reports and forecasts as well as driving conditions prior to and during your trip. Carrying a cell phone is recommended; however, it may not always work in backcountry locations and should not substitute for good judgment and preparation.

While there is no avalanche forecasting center for the San Francisco Peaks, the backcountry community can obtain a snowpack summary from the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center at www.kachinapeaks.org and see observations by other backcountry travelers. Natural avalanche activity had been reported on the San Francisco Peaks prior to this current storm. In addition to snow observations, the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center provides educational materials on the website as well as sponsoring Introduction to Avalanche seminars and more in depth avalanche field training. The next Introduction to Avalanche seminar will be on January 15th at 6:00 pm at Aspen Sports in downtown Flagstaff.

Winter backcountry travel into the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Area from Arizona Snowbowl and Snowbowl Road requires an annual backcountry permit. This includes the parking areas at FR 522 and Lamar Haines Wildlife Area.

Backcountry permits are available for free in Flagstaff at the Peaks Ranger Station, 5075 N. Highway 89, and the Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 1824 S Thompson St. Permits also will be available at Arizona Snowbowl’s Agassiz Lodge on weekends during business hours.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office to Provide Emergency Preparedness and Response Training to Teens in the Williams, Tusayan and Parks Areas

Posted on by

coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF — The Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Emergency Management will conduct 20 hours of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training for teen-aged citizens who live in or near the above listed areas. The training is offered free of charge and will be held on three Saturdays in January at the Williams Justice Court/Coconino County Sheriff’s Office located at 700 West Railroad Avenue, Williams, Arizona.

The training dates and times are

  1. Saturday, January 9, 2016 8 am to 5 pm
  2. Saturday, January 16, 2016 8 am to 5 pm
  3. Saturday January 23, 2016 8 am to 12 noon

CERT, Community Emergency Response Team grew out of the natural desire to help others during and after a natural disaster. The first people on most scenes after a disaster are survivors who want to help.

The primary objective of Teen CERT is to teach young citizens how to keep themselves, their family members and their fellow students safe before and during a disaster and how to assist them during the aftermath of a disaster. Teens will learn how to best prepare for a disaster and how to assess the scene after a disaster. They will also learn how to conduct a search and rescue operation and how to suppress small fires.

Participants will receive 6 hours of training in disaster medical operations and learn how to conduct injured victim triage. They will learn the Incident Command System and how to communicate with professional emergency responders in the most efficient way possible. Following the training successful participants will be prepared to help when disaster strikes until professional responders arrive.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Driscoll believes teens in Coconino County are an untapped resource and by offering this training the Sheriff’s Office is joining a fast growing national trend to train teens as the next generation of citizens who are prepared for emergencies and natural disasters.

After the training, teens that successfully completed the course will be encouraged to join one of the many CERT Teams that exist in Coconino County. In doing so they will receive additional training and be given the opportunity to assist first responders during emergencies and non-emergencies. Successful participants will be given a CERT backpack with some basic emergency response equipment.

Interested teens who would like more information or who wish to register for this training are asked to call Sergeant James Steng at (928) 679-8735 or (928) 607-6470.

Deceased Adult Male Found near Fat Man’s Loop Trail Identified

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — The deceased man who was found near the Fat Man’s Loop Hiking Trail on Thursday, November 5 has been identified as sixty year-old Carl Lee Shetler. Investigators were not able to determine a home city or state for Mr. Shetler and he is listed as homeless/transient. Investigators have not been able to identify or locate any next of kin for the deceased victim.

At this point in the investigation Detectives believe that foul play was involved in the death of Carl Lee Shetler and the case is being pursued as a homicide. No additional details are being released at this time so as to protect the integrity of the investigation.

On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at approximately 9:10 am a woman contacted several Arizona Department of Public Safety officers on North Highway 89 and told them she found the body of a deceased person at a temporary campsite off of Fat Man’s Loop Trail. The officers accompanied the woman back to the campsite and found the body of a deceased adult white male. The AZ DPS officers contacted the Sheriff’s Office and Deputies and Detectives responded to the camp site.

Anyone who has information regarding the murder of Carl Lee Shetler or the identity of possible suspects is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111 or go to info@coconinosilentwitness.org.

Remember you can remain completely anonymous and earn a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the suspect or suspects. You must contact Silent Witness prior to arrest or indictment to be eligible for a reward.

Sheriff Deputies and Detectives Investigate the Death of a Man

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at approximately 9:10 am a woman contacted several Arizona Department of Public Safety officers on North Highway 89 and told them she found the body of a deceased person at a temporary campsite off of Fat Man’s Loop trail. The officers accompanied the woman back to the campsite and found the body of a deceased adult white male. The AZ DPS officers contacted the Sheriff’s Office, and Deputies and Detectives responded to the camp site.

Once the investigation at the scene was complete the body was released to a representative of the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Although Detectives believe they know the name of the deceased individual, his name will not be released until positive identification and notification of his next of kin are completed.

Detectives and Medical Examiner’s Death Investigators will continue this investigation in an attempt to determine the deceased person’s name as well as the manner and mode of his death.

Multiple Search and Rescue Responses during the Past Weekend

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — On October 16th at approximately 6:00 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to a report of an overdue hunter in the Cataract Canyon area off of Espee Road. The adult male hunter from Surprise, AZ was last seen by the rest of his party at 3:00 PM and became separated when a strong thunderstorm moved in to the area reducing visibility. The hunting party conducted their own search until about 6:00 PM when they decided to call for help.

The missing hunter had a medical condition and a lack of clothing and equipment that raised the level of concern for the Sheriff’s Office. A ground search was initiated with deputies, officers from Arizona Game and Fish, and Search and Rescue. In the morning hours of October 17th the weather improved enough to allow for air search operations with the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Unit from Kingman.

At approximately 7:30 AM a deputy conducting a containment patrol on Espee Road located the hunter in good condition and transported him to the incident command post where he was interviewed and then reunited with his hunting party.

While the search on Espee Road was getting underway Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue also responded to a report of a lost hiker on the Humphrey’s Peak Trail. The adult female subject from Kentucky called 911 indicating that she was lost and got off trail while descending the trail. A deputy and a US Forest Service Officer hiked up the trail and made voice contact and then physical contact with the subject at 8:10 PM. SAR personnel responded to the area and drove a UTV up one of the Arizona Snowbowl catwalks to get close to the trail. The subject and the rescuers then met and all were transported down to the trailhead.

During both operations the weather was poor with rain, thunderstorms, and cool conditions. It is important that outdoor recreationists pay attention to the weather forecast and carry appropriate equipment for the conditions.

At a minimum those recreating in the outdoors should carry the Ten Essentials which include: water, food, extra warm clothing, navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS), headlamp/flashlight (and extra batteries), first aid kit, shelter material (space blanket/large leaf bag), fire starting kit or backpacking stove, pocket knife/multi-tool, and whistle/signal mirror.

A cell phone is also a very helpful emergency tool but should not be totally relied upon. These items will help keep individuals comfortable during an emergency and also aid rescuers in locating them.

Sheriff’s office to hold Community Emergency Response Team Training

Posted on by

Sheriff-Patch005FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s office will be hosting Community Emergency Response Team Training in Flagstaff at the Search and Rescue Training Facility, 911 E. Sawmill Road. This free of charge and open to all citizens.

The course will run from Tuesday October 27 to Thursday October 29. On Tuesday and Wednesday the course will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. concluding Thursday at noon.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs. Classes include:

  • Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
  • Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION
  • Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I
  • Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART II
  • Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
  • Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION
  • Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION

Citizens desiring more information or to register for the class can call Deputy Gerry Blair at 928-266-5089

Sponsored by:
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Bill Pribil, Sheriff
Coconino County Emergency Management

Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Multiple Parties in Wooded Areas

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies have seen an increase in the occurrence of “secret” underage alcohol parties occurring in unimproved wooded areas throughout Coconino County. These “Woods Parties” as they are often referred to by the participants can be very hazardous and at times life threatening to underage party goers.

Deputies have seen numerous underage subjects who are intoxicated to the level they can no longer make rational decisions and are not able to protect themselves from predatory adults who also frequent these events. Deputies have also seen a significant increase in the number of individuals present who are in possession of firearms.

Sheriff Bill Pribil would like to remind parents that it is imperative to know where your children are, what they are doing and who they are with. It is advisable for parents to talk to their children about underage parties and all the dangers associated with them. Crimes associated with underage parties include illegal consumption of alcohol, illegal possession and use of controlled substances and drugs, serious assaults, sexual assaults, DUI, serious motor vehicle collisions, and weapons misconduct.

On October 4, 2015 Sheriff’s dispatchers received an anonymous Crime Stop Call reporting a large underage “Woods Party” in the area of School House Draw with a large number of attendees. The caller also advised of multiple physical fights involving intoxicated party goers.

A Sheriff’s sergeant who was supervising the deputies assigned to the Flagstaff Patrol Division coordinated a response consisting of himself and two deputies. As the responding deputies approached the intersection of Forest Service roads 762 and 867 they observed a large bonfire with numerous vehicles parked around it. As the deputies approached a large gathering of people they saw numerous subjects run or stagger into a tree line located south east of the group’s location.

The sergeant went from vehicle to vehicle checking each one for occupants. He observed a maroon Chevrolet Suburban with the front passenger door wide open. He observed a male in the driver’s seat who was passed out and slumping over with his head resting on the steering wheel. The sergeant attempted to wake the subject and advised him to get out of the vehicle to which he responded by threatening to kill him and telling the sergeant he was going to die. The sergeant removed the subject from his vehicle.

While this occurred, another member of a group of approximately 25-30 people who had gathered to the watch the interaction, began to agitate the crowd with negative comments regarding this presence of the Sheriff’s Office. The sergeant was able to remove the subject from the vehicle, the subject resisted and a physical fight resulted. He forced the intoxicated subject to the ground and the struggle continued. At one point the sergeant observed a semi-automatic pistol stuffed in the subject’s waist band. He disarmed the subject and was eventually able to restrain him.

The sergeant yelled at the crowd for anyone else who was armed with a gun to separate themselves from the large group and walk to the north of where they were. Five other armed subjects complied by leaving the group and complied with being disarmed by other deputies on scene. In total six firearms were collected from various individuals in attendance at the party.

The subject who resisted the sergeant was arrested for Threatening and Intimidating, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and later the charge of Resisting Arrest was added by the County Attorney’s Office.

The other subject in the crowd that was agitating the large group was arrested and charged with Minor Consumption of Alcohol and an arrest warrant that was not related to the incident. Deputies also identified several minors, persons under the age of 18, and provided courtesy rides for them back to their parents/guardians residence to turn them back to their custody.

Several calls for SAR help taken by Sheriff’s Department

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — During Sunday through Tuesday of this week deputies and the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) unit responded to five calls for help during all hours of the day and night and at times under very hazardous conditions to help their fellow men and women.

On Sunday, October 11, 2015 at about 6:00 pm the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that an adult male and his teenage daughter both of Flagstaff were stranded in the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon. A Sheriff’s Office SAR coordinator requested assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue Division. The DPS helicopter based in Phoenix responded and conducted an air search over the area where the two stranded hikers were believed to be. Crew members were able to determine that both subjects were uninjured and were well prepared with provisions and camping equipment to spend the night at their current location. At daybreak Monday morning the SAR Technical Rescue Team and the DPS helicopter based in Flagstaff responded to West Fork Canyon. Two rescuers hiked down to the hikers’ location and prepared them for transportation via the short haul method. During the first trip the teenage girl and a rescuer were suspended beneath the helicopter on a cable and flown to an area where they were safely lowered to the ground. During the second trip the adult male, the family dog and a rescuer were transported out of the canyon via the short haul Method. Neither of the hikers required any medical attention.

On Monday, October 12, 2015 at about 4:00 pm an Arizona Game and Fish officer called the Sheriff’s Office to advise of an overdue hunter in the Blue Ridge area located west of Lake Mary Road. An adult male and his granddaughter were hunting elk and one of the two subjects shot an elk. For an unknown reason the two subjects became separated at approximately 1:30 pm. The granddaughter used her cell phone to alert the Arizona Game and Fish. The Sheriff’s Office deputy stationed in Blue Ridge and Search and Rescue personnel responded to the area and met with the Game and Fish officer who reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office. They began a ground search and a Game and Fish officer located the missing hunter. The hunter did not require medical attention and was returned to his vehicle.

On Monday afternoon the Sheriff’s Office sergeant who serves as the SAR coordinator was in the process of assisting with logistics in the search for the missing cliff jumper in Lake Powell when he was made aware of a missing adult female and her 14 year old son who were hiking on the Kachina Trail of the San Francisco Peaks. It was believed that the two left the Arizona Snowbowl parking lot at about 1:30 pm for the purpose of taking a short hike. At sundown the two became disoriented and wandered off the trail by about a half of a mile. On duty deputies hiked the Kachina Trial and located the lost subjects and escorted them back to their vehicles.

During that same afternoon the SAR coordinator was contacted by Havasupai tribal officials and informed that a hiker in Supai Canyon injured her leg. Members of the Supai Rural CERT team were able to transport the injured hiker to Supai Village. Tribal Officials requested assistance in having an air rescue helicopter transport the injured hiker out of the canyon and to a medical center.

Body of Cliff Jumper Recovered by Multi-Agency Response

Posted on by

Coconino County Sheriff Photo

Coconino County Sheriff Photo

PAGE — Today [Wednesday] at 9:37 a.m., the 6-day search for missing 29-year old Billy Burke of Jackson Hole, Wyoming concluded when his body was spotted at a depth of 153 feet in Lake Powell.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol Division discovered the body using an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Billy’s body was discovered at the base of a cliff in the Coconino County portion of Face Canyon where friends reported that he entered the water in the afternoon of Friday October 9 after attempting a cliff jump of approximately 90 feet.

The ROV deployed by Maricopa County is over 60% smaller and more agile for navigating the rugged underwater terrain in the search area than the ROV used on previous search days. This ROV was able to approach the cliff walls without stirring up as much sediment, which allowed for improved viewing of the area.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Acting Superintendent Lindy Mihata extends thanks to Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Utah State Parks for contributing to this successful search and underwater recovery effort.

The search was coordinated by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, while the investigation is being coordinated by Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives. At this point in the investigation, investigators do not believe that foul play was involved, and that this was an unfortunate accident.

Since the year 2000, six cliff jumping deaths have occurred in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Responders caught in flash flood while recovering body

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Yesterday around 4:30 p.m., approximately 16 Sheriff’s Deputies, Search and Rescue and US Forest Service responders were forced to higher ground during a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon.

The responders were conducting a body recovery for a suicide that occurred off Midgely Bridge. Due to a storm cell over the area that produced heavy rain, hail and lightning, rescuers had to delay removal of the body.

After the storm subsided, rescuers entered the canyon for the body recovery. While conducting the recovery, Sheriff’s Office personnel reported a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon from the heavy rainfall over Wilson Mountain.

Rescuers were in the process of hoisting the body to the bridge when the flash flood occurred. The body was already above flood waters; however, responders below the bridge had to retreat quickly uphill away from rising waters. With several feet of fast moving water going through the canyon, three of the responders became briefly stranded on one side of the canyon.

They were not in danger and waited just under an hour to ensure storm cells had cleared and the water receded before they re-crossed.