Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Sheriff’ Deputies Respond to Multiple Reports of Burglary from Automobiles in 2 Rural Neighborhoods

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FLAGSTAFF — At about 6:30 am this morning, Tuesday, June 16, 2015 a Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the report of a vehicle burglary in Pioneer Valley Estates on Pioneer Valley Road. The reporting party believed the crime occurred sometime after Monday, June 15, 2015 7:30 pm and before Tuesday, June 15, 2015 6:00 am. According to the victim the vehicle was left unlocked and several items of value were taken. After taking the initial report Deputies drove the area and discovered an additional 5 vehicle burglaries. Deputies found several vehicles with doors left open. Many of the vehicle owners were asleep and unaware that their vehicle had been burglarized. Due to similar physical evidence found at several of the crime scenes Deputies believe all of the crimes were committed by the same suspect or group of suspects.

These burglaries also occurred in Sunset Crater Estates on Moonbeam and Gemini. Items taken during the burglaries included a portable audio player, a satellite radio receiver, cash and loose change, and a firearm. All the victims told the investigators that they left their vehicles unlocked. During the investigations Deputies learned that locked vehicles located in close proximity to the burglarized vehicles were left untouched. It is not uncommon for individuals who commit vehicle burglaries to walk a neighborhood and check the doors of each vehicle. If the vehicle is locked they move on until they find a vehicle that is unlocked.

Auto-burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, involves limiting the criminal’s ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With very little time and effort, you can make a huge difference in your vulnerability to auto-burglary.

  • Lock ALL your vehicle’s doors even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time. Every year, we have items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone “just for a second.” It only takes seconds to steal your stuff! It’s not uncommon for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles and check vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked. Don’t leave any window open or even cracked open, including vent/wing windows and sunroofs.
  • Don’t leave valuables in your car. That sounds like “common sense,” but drivers/passengers do leave items of value in plain view every day. If you leave valuable items visible in your car, your car is automatically a target.
  • Try to park in busy, well-lighted areas. Try to park in well-traveled areas. Large anonymous lots are hit by thieves much more often than parking immediately adjacent to residential housing or other occupied buildings.
  • Set any alarm or anti-theft device. If you have one, use it! Many people believe that car-alarms no longer make a difference, but they can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target.
  • Mark your valuables! As a last line of defense (not really to prevent theft as much as to aid in recovery), mark your valuables. Recording serial numbers is dandy, but nowadays many serial numbers are on removable “labels” rather than “engraved” into valuable items. Sheriff Pribil suggests inscribing/engraving a “personal identifier” on all valuables.
  • Take Removable Equipment with You. If you have an after-market stereo/CD-player with a removable faceplate, remove it. Without the faceplate, the unit is less attractive/useful to many thieves, and harder to “fence.” If the unit can be pulled, pull it! Take it with you. Just covering a valuable radio (or ANY valuables in your car) with something (like a blanket or towel) to hide it will probably only draw thieves’ attention.
  • Report Suspicious Activity. If you see suspicious activity, report it to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or call 911

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Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Numerous Calls for Service during the Weekend

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF — Three community events (Too Broke for Sturgis, Firefly, and Made in the Shade) each attracting a large number of attendees occurred in Coconino County this past weekend.

Too Broke for Sturgis was a four day event from June 11-14 that took place at Mormon Lake. Promoters estimated that approximately 1,500 motorcycle enthusiasts attended this event and camped in the area.

Firefly is described by its promoters as a gathering focused on manifesting vision of a co-creative, nurturing and loving community that fosters a healing, healthy lifestyle partnered with conscious celebration and spiritual peak experiences. Promoters estimated the attendance to be approximately 1,400.

The third event was the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival that took place at the Pepsi Amphitheater at the Coconino County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 13 from 1-5 pm.

Calls for service ranged from an accidental shooting at the Too Broke for Sturgis event (report S15-02234) to a one vehicle non-injury rollover collision on a dirt road near Blue Ridge (report S15-02236).

On Friday evening Deputies respond to a campsite at the Too Broke for Sturgis event on the report of an accidental shooting. According to witnesses an intoxicated adult male took a handgun out of a shoulder holster he was wearing and accidentally inflicted a through and through gunshot wound to his left hand. Deputies estimated that after exiting the victim’s hand the bullet continued to travel and missed striking a bystander by less than one foot. The bullet came to rest in the tire of a nearby vehicle. The individual who accidentally shot himself in the hand was transported by Guardian Medical Transport to the Flagstaff Medical Center where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies and Detectives are continuing this Felony Endangerment investigation (report S15-02234).

On Saturday Deputies assigned to the Williams Grand Canyon District assisted U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement officers with the arrest of a violent and combative individual for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer in the area of Forest Service Roads FS17 and FS12 (report S15-02357).

On Sunday Sheriff’s Deputies, Navajo Nation Police Officers, and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers responded to the report of a fight involving multiple combatants along the side of Highway 89 in the area of milepost 456. Upon their arrival many of the participants were still present and it was determined to be Navajo Nation Police jurisdiction. Deputies arrested one of the participants who was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant (report S15-02263).

During the weekend Deputies assigned to the Blue Ridge, Flagstaff, Forest Lakes, Oak Creek Canyon and Williams/Grand Canyon districts responded or conducted 27 public assists and motorists assists, conducted 222 area patrols and business checks, responded to 14 reports of disorderly conduct, assisted with 18 calls for medical assistance, investigated 7 reports of property crimes and 5 crimes against persons.

They conducted 48 traffic stops, responded to 2 calls involving firearms, investigated 5 non-injury or injury motor vehicle collisions, arrested 2 individuals for DUI, and responded to incidents involving Domestic Violence.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Coconino County Search and Rescue personnel also responded to 8 reports of missing persons, overdue hikers and injured hikers.

Rescue of Hikers Provides Reminder to Carry the “Ten Essentials”

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Peaks-15-06-11-3FLAGSTAFF — On June 11, 2015 at approximately 8:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to a report of six lost hikers on the San Francisco Peaks.

The hikers were part of a group of ten hikers from a Boy Scout Troop from Tucson, AZ. The group intended to hike up the Weatherford Trail from Schultz Tank and then descend the Humphreys Trail to cars that they had parked at the Snowbowl. Four members of the group completed the hike as planned but six members, including two adults and four juveniles, decided to turn around when they reached a snowfield on the north side of Agassiz Peak. That group intended to contour around Agassiz Peak and hike cross country to the Snowbowl and then down to the parking lot; however, they became disoriented to their location.

At approximately 8:30 pm the lost hikers were able to call 911 and their location was determined from the phone call. The group had come across the Kachina Trail about halfway between the trailhead at the Snowbowl and the intersection with the Weatherford Trail.

The group did not have any lights and had run out of food. They were not dressed for the weather they encountered and did not have a map or other navigation equipment other than their smart phones. The group stayed in place while Search and Rescue units hiked into their location and provided them with jackets, food, and head lamps. Search and Rescue then escorted them to the trailhead at Snowbowl where the rest of the party was waiting.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue would like to remind hikers to be prepared when hiking in Northern Arizona. Weather can change rapidly in the mountains and snow may still be on some trails at higher elevations. Hikers should carry the “Ten Essentials” even on short day hikes in case of an emergency.

The “Ten Essentials” include Water, Food, Extra Warm Clothing, Map/Compass/GPS, Headlamp/Flashlight, First Aid Kit, Shelter Material, Fire Starting Kit or Backpacking Stove, Pocket Knife/Multi-tool, and Whistle/Signal Mirror.

Cell phones are good tools to have along but should not be relied upon in the wilderness where cell signals may not be available.

Hikers should always leave a detailed trip plan with trusted friends or family. Care should always be exercised when building a fire and it should be monitored and then put completely out when no longer needed.

Inter-Agency Cooperation Results in an Arrest for Multiple Counts of Exploitation of a Minor

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300Leroy-BehnkeFLAGSTAFF — On May 12, 2015 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agents contacted Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives regarding the possession and distribution of child pornography by an adult male who lives in the greater Flagstaff area. According to the FBI agents they developed information that caused them to believe that 28 year-old Leroy Behnke of Flagstaff, Arizona was in possession of numerous images depicting young children and infants engaged in various sexual acts. They further believed that Behnke had obtained the images from several online chat rooms and then distributed the images to other online users.

On May 21, 2015 Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives, Deputies and FBI Agents served a search warrant on Behnke’s place of residence while he was at home. During the service of the search warrant Behnke’s laptop computer was seized and he was interviewed by a Sheriff’s Detective and an FBI agent.

During the interview Behnke made statements implicating himself in numerous counts of possessing and exchanging child pornography images online. Behnke was arrested on 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Distribution and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility where he was incarcerated.

This case is one of many cooperative efforts between the FBI and the Sheriff’s office that resulted in the arrest of an outstanding suspect on very serious charges.

Sheriff’s Detectives and FBI agents are continuing this investigation.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Memorial Weekend 2015 Activity

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coco-sheriff-300pxCoconino County, AZ — Historically holiday weekends attract large numbers of people to northern Arizona. Deputies responded to multiple calls for service and initiated many contacts with the public over the Memorial Day weekend Friday, May 22 (noon) – Monday, May 25 (midnight). They responded to approximately 270 citizen requests for assistance and conducted over 500 patrol activities (e.g., area patrols, business checks, traffic stops, etc.).

In efforts to enhance highway, roadway, and recreation safety throughout Coconino County, Deputies in the Flagstaff, Williams, Page Districts, officers conducted approximately 115 traffic stops resulting in: one Aggravated DUI arrest, 19 citations (including two for child restraint offenses, 3 seat belt offenses, several speed citations, and one Title 4 alcohol offense), 8 repair orders, 28 verbal warnings, and 21 written warnings.

Outdoor recreation being higher this time of year, we received over 25 emergency medical related calls, 18 fire related calls, and numerous other calls reporting shooting near public areas, disturbing the peace, large parties, and suspicious activity. Many of these calls were in campground areas or on public land. In an effort to help educate people about off-road, ATV, and boating safety, officers made contact with riders and boaters to ensure safety measures were being followed. We had four reports of off-road related injury accidents in the county.

There were 97 total bookings processed at the Flagstaff and Page Coconino County Detention Facility from May 22 (8:00 am) – May 25 (midnight). Bookings are processed for agencies including: Flagstaff Police Department, Page Police Department, Williams Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety as well as other law enforcement agencies in the county.
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Community Emergency Response Team Training offered in Page

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coco-sheriff-300pxPAGE — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Emergency Management Division will present a three-day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class in Page. The training will be held at the Page Public Safety Facility located at 808 Coppermine Road. More than fifty CERT classes have been delivered to urban, rural and reservation communities throughout Coconino County.

The class will be conducted on Friday, May 29, 2015 from 6 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday May 31, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm. This training session is offered to all community members free of charge.

CERT Classes are offered by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and upon successful completion each participant will receive a Community Emergency Response Basic Certification and a back pack containing basic community emergency first responder gear.

Successful participants who wish to serve their community will be invited to join a team in Coconino County and will receive additional in-service training. They will assist their local First Responders during Emergency and Non-Emergency events. CERT Team members in Flagstaff meet monthly for additional training.

CERT Volunteers have been utilized during responses to Wild Land Fires, Flooding, Tornados, Heavy Snow Storms and many other natural disasters. CERT Volunteers have served in a variety of capacities to include staffing road blocks, assisting with neighborhood evacuation notification, staffing joint information call centers, assisting with Incident Command Centers, distributing neighborhood safety information and in many other areas.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failure, 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.

Community members who would like additional information or who wish to register for the basic training that will be conducted in Page, AZ are encouraged to call the Community Programs Office of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089 or Lieutenant Bret Axlund at (928) 679-8705.

Multi-Agency Response to Injured Hiker in the Area of West Clear Creek

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FLAGSTAFF — On May 10th at approximately 2:30 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit responded to a report of an injured hiker in West Clear Creek. The adult male victim was believed to have a broken leg and was in need of rescue.

The Blue Ridge resident deputy sheriff and the Pine-Strawberry Fire District responded and requested Search and Rescue. The Search and Rescue team responded for a litter carry. Given the time of day and the conditions in the bottom of West Clear Creek it was determined that a helicopter short-haul rescue would be the safest option.

Arizona Department of Public Safety Central Air Rescue in Phoenix responded to the area and a Coconino County Sheriff’s Office SAR volunteer who is trained as a heli-rescue technician boarded the helicopter and performed heli-rappel into the scene.

Once on scene the SAR heli-rescue technician and Pine-Strawberry Fire District personnel packaged the patient on a backboard and then placed him in a Bauman Bag device for the short-haul. The patient and the SAR heli-rescue technician were then short-hauled out of the canyon to the intersection of State Route 260 and State Route 87 where a ground ambulance was waiting for the patient.

This mission was another good example of interagency coordination among northern Arizona responders and the Department of Public Safety Aviation Bureau.

Multi-Agency Response to a Wild Land Fire Results in the Arrest of Two 13 year-old Suspects

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, May 3, 2015 at about 2:20 pm Coconino County Emergency Dispatchers received multiple reports of suspicious smoke from motorists who were traveling on I-17.

The responding Deputy arrived in an area located north of Tovar Trail in the Kachina Village Community. U.S. Forest Service and the Highlands Fire Department personnel were in the process of suppressing the fire that the deputy estimated to be 150 square feet in size. The deputy observed that the fire appeared to be advancing in a north direction with a burnt structure that appeared to be a child’s fort at the south end.

The Deputy recalled investigating a similar incident that occurred at the same location in 2014 that resulted in the arrest of two 13 year-old boys. He drove to the residence of one of the two boys that had been arrested as the result of the 2014 fire but was unable to make contact with him there.

As he was driving on Tovar Trail he observed two boys riding bicycles in the middle of the street in the opposite direction of the fire. He made contact with the two and identified one of them as being involved with the 2014 fire. The second boy admitted to being in the area when this fire started and identified a second suspect who was not present. The second subject lived in the City of Flagstaff and the Deputy asked that a Flagstaff Police Officer contact and interview him.

As the result of statements made by the two suspects and items of evidence that were discovered and collected by the Deputy, one 13 year-old boy was arrested for the charges of Reckless Burning and Disorderly Conduct and booked into the Coconino County Juvenile Detention Facility; the other 13 year-old boy was referred to Juvenile Court for the same charges.

National Public Safety Dispatcher Appreciation Week

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640-911-Flag-Police-PhotoFLAGSTAFF — For the past several years Public Safety Agencies nationwide have recognized the pivotal role played by the telecommunicators, dispatchers, communication operators, and radio and control personnel.

All the women and men of the communication center at the Flagstaff Police Department/Coconino County Sheriff’s Office who utilize telephones, radios, computers and technical skills to provide support to Law Enforcement, Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services and other governmental field personnel are being celebrated the week of April 12-18th. Our dispatcher’s work 24/7, 365 days a week to assure that officers have the information they need as first responders.

Each year, the second week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as Public Safety Telecommunicators. In 1991, Congress proclaimed it as a national recognized week of recognition.

The Flagstaff Police Department will celebrate this year’s Telecommunicators Week – April 12-18 in honor of their dedicated dispatchers who handle several thousand wireless 9-1-1 calls each month within Northern Arizona. The week will be filled with various activities including Mayor Nabors making a proclamation on Tuesday, 4-14-2015.

When you dial 9-1-1 on your cellular phone in Northern Arizona a dispatcher answers the call. Please know where you are and stay on the line so they can help get the assistance you need.

Facts about the Flagstaff 9-1-1 Communications Center:

  • Number of employees: currently 22 civilian dispatchers (Emergency Communication Specialists)
  • Supervisors: 6 with 1 serving as the 9-1-1 Coordinator
  • Call Taker: 2
  • Consoles: 10 (telephone/radio)
  • Entry level Emergency Communications Specialist pay per month: $3019.20
  • Entry level Call Taker pay per month: $$2257.00
  • Telephone calls received in March 2015:
  • 4,229 cellular/wireless 911 calls
  • 12,865 on non-emergency and other land lines

EMPLOYMENT
Are you searching for an exciting and rewarding career? 9-1-1 Dispatchers serve as a vital link in the public safety response chain. Some have provided life-saving CPR instruction and others have brought babies into the world. This is your chance to make a difference in your community. Be a part of our team; a valuable and rewarding career – apply today!

Woman held in Doney Park death

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300susan-jacobsonFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff detectives are continuing to investigate and conduct additional interviews in the death of 54-year-old Marvin Neal James at his home in the Doney Park neighborhood. Investigators believe this crime occurred sometime between the late night hours of Wednesday, February 25, 2015 and the early morning hours of Thursday, February 26, 2015.

Susan Joy Jacobson remains in the Coconino County Detention Facility on a $500,000 bail in connection with the death.

On Friday, February 27, 2015 at approximately 5:00 pm 43 year-old Susan Joy Jacobson came to the Law Enforcement Administration Facility and initially spoke with a Flagstaff Police Officer who subsequently referred her to speak with a Sheriff’s Deputy.

When Susan met with the deputy, she informed him that she shot and killed Marvin Neal James. She further disclosed that his body was still inside their home. While the interview continued, deputies went to the residence, looked through a window and observed what they believed to be Mr. James’s body. A search warrant was obtained for the residence.

While interviewing Susan Jacobson detectives obtained a general description of the location of the gun used in the commission. On Saturday, February 28 members of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit conducted an evidence retrieval line search in the area Jacobson described. They located a handgun that was wrapped in plastic and buried.

While in custody, she gave birth to a second child she has in common with James. The couple also has a three year old.