Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives Investigate Murder

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating the murder of a 54 year-old man that occurred at a home located 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.

On Friday, February 27, 2015 at approximately 4:00 pm a forty three year-old woman arrived at the Law Enforcement Administration Facility and initially spoke with a Flagstaff Police officer who subsequently referred her to the Sheriff’s Office. When the woman met with a deputy, she informed him that she had shot and killed her husband, and further disclosed that the victim’s 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 a deceased human body. They did not enter the home until a search warrant was obtained.

The suspect and the fifty four year-old male victim were not married but have lived together for approximately five years. The victim and suspect have a three year-old child in common and the suspect is pregnant with their second child. The three year-old child was present in the home when the murder occurred.

The suspect was incarcerated at the Coconino County Detention Facility on Friday night for one count of Second-Degree Murder and three counts of Tampering with Evidence. She is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.

Sheriff’s Investigators are in the process of contacting numerous individuals who are believed to be investigative leads in this case and interviewing them.

Both the victim’s and the suspect’s names are being withheld until such time that the release of additional information will not adversely affect the outcome of the criminal investigation.

All NAU Students and Faculty Airlifted to Safety

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FLAGSTAFF – All of the NAU students and Faculty have been rescued from the area of Sowats Point near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where they have been stranded since yesterday afternoon.

As of 4:00 pm today all of the individuals were flown to the parking lot of Jacobs Lake where they will be driven back to NAU Campus. Today’s eleven hour rescue effort began this morning at 5:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm this afternoon.

All twenty of the individuals are reported to be in good health and none of them required medical attention. Due to the vast distances involved the DPS Air Rescue Helicopter had to fly into Utah twice for the purpose of refueling. Students and faculty will be transported from Jacobs Lake to NAU campus via NAU vehicles.

Efforts Underway to Rescue 20 NAU Staff and Students near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

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FREDONIA – On Monday, February 23, 2015 at about 1:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a representative of Northern Arizona University. According to the caller two NAU vans carrying sixteen students, two university staff members, and two graduate students/assistants were stuck by snow-covered, impassable dirt roads in the area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The group had been camping for several days in the area of Sowats Point located outside of the Grand National Park. They attempted to drive out of the area yesterday afternoon when the vans became stuck in snow. Students and staff were able to free the vehicle; however, it was apparent to them that the dirt roads covered with deep snow were impassable. The area from Fredonia to the North Rim is reporting between 18-24” of snowfall from the most recent storm.

Sheriff’s Office personnel had intermittent contact with members of the party via cell phones and satellite texting. All members of the group are in good health with ample provisions and camping equipment to sustain them overnight. Due to the time of day and the weather conditions, the decision was made to have the group drive as far east as possible and to shelter in place inside the vehicles overnight. The group is approximately 30 miles south of Fredonia and 20 miles west of SR 67.

The Sheriff’s Office developed two rescue plans and coordinated with Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue. This morning an AZ DPS helicopter and crew from Flagstaff flew to the area to determine if members of the party can be safely picked up and flown out. Current conditions of low cloud cover, heavy fog and light snow may hamper this rescue approach. Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel will stand by with a snow cat and a four wheel drive vehicle equipped with mattracks. In the event that an air rescue is not possible, SAR personnel will drive to the location and transport them to safety.

At 12:57 p.m. today, the Arizona DPS helicopter pilot has surveyed the area on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where the 20 NAU students and faculty are stranded at Sowats Point. He determined he can safely transport the stranded people out of area by air. Currently three of the students have been airlifted to the parking lot at Jacobs Lake where they were met by NAU transport vehicles. The students and factuality members will be flown three at a time until all members of the party have been safely relocated.

USFS Law Enforcement Officer Acting within his Lawful Duty in Shooting Death of a suspect

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FLAGSTAFF – The criminal investigation of USFS Law Enforcement Officer who fatally shot a suspect who attacked him in the Blue Ridge area on September 19, 2014 has been completed and the officer will not face charges.

Evidence collected during the investigation showed that USFS Officer Andrew Pederson was acting within his lawful duty when he came in contact with sixty-six year old Courtney James Van Riper. Investigation of the events that led to the shooting death of Van Riper indicated that the officer was defending himself during the shooting incident.

Following the shooting death of Van Riper, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office conducted the criminal investigation into the officer involved shooting death of Courtney Van Riper.

The investigation was forwarded to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office who reviewed the case. After reviewing the evidence, the Coconino County Attorney’s Office completed its report that no charges would be filed against Pederson. In their report, the County Attorney’s Office found that the evidence shows that Pederson was discharging a lawful duty when he encountered sixty-six year old Courtney James Van Riper.

The evidence shows that during the encounter, Van Riper produced a large can of pepper spray which he pointed and sprayed at the face of the officer. The evidence also indicates that Pederson’s actions of firing multiple rounds at the suspect were based on the reasonable belief that Van Riper might take control of his service weapon once he was incapacitated by the spray.

The County Attorney’s report cited Arizona Revised Statutes 13-410(C)(1) which permits law enforcement to use deadly physical force in self-defense.

Marvin Curley Pleads Guilty to 1st Degree Murder of David Allen Christine

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF – On Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Marvin Curley entered a guilty pela to the first Degree Murder of David Allen Christine in Coconino County Superior Court Division 3. Superior Court Judge Mark Moran sentenced Marvin Curley to natural life in prison.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at about 5:30 a.m. the Flagstaff Police Department/Coconino County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a motorist who was traveling on Leupp Road (FS 505). According to the reporting party, he was in the area located just east of Star School when he observed what he believed to be a body off of the roadway in the dirt.

During the initial investigation a detective who was at the scene observed indications of foul play. There were no forms of identification on the victim, and detectives received information causing them to believe the individual frequented several homeless shelters in Flagstaff. Investigators interviewed multiple clients of several homeless centers in Flagstaff in an attempt to identify the victim but met with no results.

Fingerprints were taken from the deceased and with the assistance of the United States Marshals Office the prints were submitted to a federal forensic laboratory that provides results in a short period of time. The results of the fingerprint analysis identified the body to be that of 56 year-old David Allen Christine of Flagstaff. Subsequently Flagstaff Police Officers located a white Plymouth mini-van registered to the victim parked outside a local motel. During the investigation Detectives identified and interviewed several investigative leads that developed Marvin Curley as a possible suspect. A combination of statements made and evidence collected and analyzed lead to the arrest of Marvin Curley.

Sheriff’s office seeks information on missing person

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640-cynthia-wilderFLAGSTAFF – County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are requesting assistance from the community in locating sixty one year-old Cynthia Wilder of Flagstaff, Arizona who was last seen at 5:00 am today at her home located in the Timberline Neighborhood.

Ms. Wilder reportedly suffers from Dementia and at times becomes very confused and disoriented.

Cynthia Wilder is described as a sixty one year old white female approximately 5’1” in height and weighing approximately 105 pounds. She has blue eyes and red/gray hair and wears
prescription glasses. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a brown sweater with thin blue stripes, Sorel type snow boots and a light brown Shearling type coat with a white lamb’s wool lining.

Community members who believe they may have information regarding Cynthia Wilder’s whereabouts or information regarding her disappearance are urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at 1-800-338-7888. A photograph of Ms. Wilder is attached to this message.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Emergency Management Present Community Emergency Response Team Training

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coco-sheriff-300pxThe Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Emergency Management Division will present a (three) day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station located at 6593 High Country Lane off of Highway 64. More than fifty CERT classes have been delivered to urban, rural and reservation communities throughout Coconino County.

The class will be held at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station beginning Friday, January 23, 2015 from 6 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday January 25, 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 to include Reflective Vest, Hard Hat, Eye Protection, Gloves, A four in One Tool and a CERT Field Response Guide.

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 and 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. Community members who would like additional information or who wish to register for the basic training that will be conducted at the High Country Fire-Rescue Station are encouraged to call the Community Programs Office of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.
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Mesa Man Arrested on Multiple Counts of Burglary in the Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes Communities

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dillon Flagstaff – On Thursday, January 1, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 57 year old Douglas Doyle Dillon of Mesa, Arizona in connection with multiple residential burglaries in the Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes communities. Between the months of March through December 2014 over 20 burglaries were reported in or near these communities.

Investigation revealed the burglaries occurred during the winter months when the targeted seasonal homes were unoccupied. Outbuildings such as garages, storage sheds and workshops were the primary target, and the majority of items taken during these burglaries were contractor type tools to include air compressors, power tools, saws, drills, and chainsaws.

While investigating the burglaries in the Forest Lakes area, images of a suspect were retrieved from cameras installed at the victimized residences. The deputy also collected blood samples at one scene where there was broken glass from the forced entry. This evidence was submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Lab for analysis. The crime lab was able to obtain a DNA profile from the blood sample and submitted it to the FBI CODIS system, which houses DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local forensic laboratories.

Analysis of the blood sample matched a DNA sample from Dillon. Detectives submitted investigative reports to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for review and charging. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Douglas Doyle Dillon.

Although there was a warrant for arrest, Dillon was difficult to locate as Detectives believed he was living transient. During the month of December several more residential burglaries were reported in Blue Ridge and Forest Lakes, and deputies continued to attempt to locate Douglas Dillon.

On January 1, 2015 the community deputy for the Forest Lakes area located Dillon as he was attempting to free his vehicle from a snow bank. Dillon was arrested on the outstanding warrant and was transported to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility located in Flagstaff where he currently remains in custody on one count of First Degree Burglary, two counts of Third Degree Burglary and one count of Possession of Stolen Property. Detectives and AZ DPS Crime Lab are continuing this investigation and additional burglary charges are anticipated.

Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Holiday Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta would like to invite residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities to the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Summit Fire Station 33, located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of Highway 89N. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

This meeting will include a holiday theme potluck dinner. Tim Dalegowski who is the Transportation Planner and Scott Tkach who is the County Engineer for Coconino County will give a presentation about the results of a traffic study on Campbell Avenue regarding the speed limit.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Matthew M. Figueroa Promoted to Commander of Detention Services

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640px-FigueroaFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff Bill Pribil is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Matthew M. Figueroa has been promoted to the position of Commander of Detention Services for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Matthew was one of several nationwide candidates who were selected to participate in the intensive testing and interviewing process. In addition, three other CCSO Detention Staff members also completed the testing and interview process. Sheriff Pribil said, “All of our candidates were highly qualified and represented the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at the highest level. I wish to thank all of the candidates for their professionalism and leadership. Matthew Figueroa has served our agency for 18 years and brings a depth of knowledge and experience to the position of Commander of Detention Services.”

Matthew lives in Flagstaff with his wife Kimberly and their three sons Tyler, Tristen and Trace. He began his formal education at Arizona State University and transferred to Northern Arizona University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

Matthew’s family has a strong commitment to the corrections profession. His father and his brother both retired from the Arizona Department of Corrections. He joined the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in 1996, attended the state Correctional Officers Academy and began his career as a Detention Officer I. He served one year in that capacity and was then promoted to the position of Detention Officer II. While a detention officer, Matthew served as a court officer, transport officer, and he also worked in the intake and inmate housing operations. He served as a Detention Sergeant for 8 ½ years and then as a Detention Lieutenant for the past 8 years during which time he managed all aspects of the day to day operations of the Detention Facility.

In 2000 Commander Figueroa was assigned to the team that facilitated the transfer from the old jail located in downtown Flagstaff to the new facility located at 911 Sawmill Road. He assisted with the recruitment, screening and hiring of new detention staff as the demand for detention officers in the new facility was double the amount of officers who staffed the older facility. He was assigned to the construction site six months prior to the completion date and helped insure that all aspects of the project met specifications.

Prior to 2004, Detention Officers were required to attend a six to seven week Correctional Officers Academy at one of several locations throughout the state. This required the officers to be away from their homes and their families for an extended period of time. Lodging and other expenses proved to be quite costly to the Sheriff’s Office. In 2004 Matt led a team that developed a partnership with the Coconino Community College to develop a curriculum for an accredited basic detention officers’ academy. Students who complete the program not only not only are developed for their new job, they also receive 13 credit hours of college instruction which they can apply to professional development. The establishment of a local Detention Officer Academy represented a significant savings to the Sheriff’s Office and prevented participants from being separated from their homes and families, and also instills officers with long term career opportunities.

In 2012 Commander Figueroa attended and successfully completed a 40 hour National Jail Leadership Command Academy for jail commanders at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas. This training is accredited by the American Jail Association and Correctional Management Institute of Texas. Matt also is nationally recognized as a Certified Jail Manager by the American Jail Association.

During his career Matt has received numerous recognitions and accolades for his dedication and service above and beyond the call of duty to include four National Public Service Recognition Awards, a Sheriff’s Citation for Meritorious Service, an Officer Achievement Award, Officer of the Year award and many others.

Commander Figueroa’s career certainly is in line with and exemplifies many of the goals and philosophies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office mission, vision, and values. We look forward to his continued participation in the leadership and future of our organization and service to the community.