Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

71 Year Old Seligman Area Man Arrested for Homicide

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hollman, richardFLAGSTAFF – On Saturday, November 15, 2014 at approximately 10:00 AM, Richard Hollman called and reported he had shot his wife at a home located west of Seligman, AZ . Arizona Department of Public Safety and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office officers had units closer to the area and responded to the scene first. They detained the suspect and confirmed the victim was deceased while Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies were in route. The suspect in the case is identified as 71 year old Richard Hollman. The victim was later identified as 62 year old Carol Sheansy.

Detectives of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office investigated the scene and interviewed Hollman who implicated himself in the shooting death of Sheansy. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and located a weapon believed to be used in the homicide along with over 20 pounds of high grade marijuana.

Hollman is currently being held in the Coconino County Detention Facility on a First Degree Murder charge; his bond has been set at $1,000,000. This incident is still under investigation and further details are not available for release at this time.

Scott Olson found deceased

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scott-01FLAGSTAFF – Lost hiker Scott Olson was found deceased at about 10:50 a.m. this morning on the north-west side of Humpries Peak. A search team assigned to that area spotted recent dog tracks and followed the tracks to where Faith, his dog, remained in close proximity to his master.

Mr. Olson’s body was located at an elevation greater than 10,000 feed downslope from a landmark know as Philomeno Spring. The cause of death was not readily apparen. Inestigators found no signs of foul play.

Faith was in good condition and taken down the mountain and returned to a member of the Scott family.

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Scott Olson left his cabin located in the Hart Prairie area and told his neighbors he was going for a hike in the meadow with his mixed breed dog “Faith.” That was the last time that his friends or family members saw or heard from him. Scott’s relatives reported him as a missing person on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated a ground and air search late Wednesday evening with searchers on foot and in vehicles looking for Mr. Olson all night.

Early Thursday morning a day time search was initiated that include searchers on foot, in vehicles, with scent dogs and in aircraft. Once again the search continued throughout the night.

On Friday morning the search group consisted of more than 50 individuals serving as searchers or support staff and air support provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department thanked the many friends and relatives of Mr. Olson who assisted in the search or provided valuable information and support.

Scott Olson served as a volunteer in the Coconino County Detention Facility for five years beginning October of 2009 providing ministry services for hundreds of inmates. His dedication and strong sense of community service was greatly appreciated by jail staff and the inmates he served. The investigation will be continued by Sheriff’s Detectives and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Northern Arizona Gazette extends our condolences to the family of Olson Scott.

Male Subject Found Deceased Near Jolly Sink, North Kaibab Forest

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coco-sheriff-300pxFREDONIA – On September 13, 2014 deputies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Northern District received a report of a suspicious abandoned vehicle near the Jolly Sink area on the North Kaibab National Forest. A deputy from the Fredonia Substation responded and with the help of a local rancher located a deceased male subject at the bottom of a nearby cliff near the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to investigate the scene. The male subject was identified as a white male in his mid-fifties from out of state. Release of the identity of the male is pending notification of family members. The incident is currently under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Coconino County Sheriff seeks information on lost person

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scott-01FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the whereabouts of 63 year old Scott Olson. Scott was last known to be at his cabin in the Hart Prairie area on Tuesday 11/11/14.

Oldon told family/friends he was going for a hike in the meadow. Scott would have taken his dog with him but has not been seen or heard from since. Scott’s car is at his cabin and his cell phone appears to be turned off.

Scott is a white male, 6′ 3″, 195 pound with blue eyes and grey hair.

Anyone who has seen Scott Olson or has information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of him and his dog is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or 800-338-7888.

Injured hiker rescued from the Grand Canyon Monday

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Photos courtesy of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department.

640-GC-Rescue-03GRAND CANYON – Elements from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Arizona DPS, Flagstaff Fire Department and National Park Service performed a dramatic rescue at the Grand Canyon in the early morning hours Monday. A 68-year-old Tuscon woman was injured when she fell from a trail while hiking.

The female hiker was hiking with two others along the Clear Creek Trail on Sunday, November 2 when about 7 p.m. she slipped and fell down a slope off of the trail. The hikers fall stopped with her head down slope and about three feet from a cliff’s edge that dropped down 80 feet to the creek bed below. When the hiker attempted to recover and move, she would slide further down slope due to very loose soil and rocks. The victim, fearing that she would slide over the cliff edge, lay still as her two friends activated a satellite emergency notification device or SPOT device.
640-GC-Rescue-02The National Park Service at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim was advised of the emergency notification and sent a ranger to area of the SPOT alert. The park service ranger hiked for six hours from Phantom Ranch, reaching the victim around 3:00 a.m. Rangers determined the victim had suffered some type of injury to her leg. Due to the dangerous and unstable ground, the Park Service requested assistance from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue helicopter, who have the capability to conduct night operations.

The DPS helicopter flew two heli-rescue members, one from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the other from the Flagstaff Fire Department into the canyon where they were able to land about a mile away from the victim. Rescuers hiked to the area where they had to secure ropes and rappel down to the victim. The victim was secured by a harness and then “short hauled” or flown out with a rescuer.

The victim was flown to the Grand Canyon Heli-base at the South Rim where she was transferred to a ground ambulance and taken to the Grand Canyon Clinic. She was treated for a fractured ankle and hypothermia and later released.

Overdue Hiker on Kachina Trail Located

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF – At 8:30 pm on Thursday, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to investigate a report of an overdue hiker on the Kachina Trail. The 55-year-old male was reportedly conducting a day hike with his dog along the Kachina Trail. He was reported overdue by his girlfriend when he did not return by late afternoon as expected.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit members responded to the location and conducted search operations throughout the evening. During the search they located clues indicating the path he had traveled near the Weatherford Trail. Search operations continued into the early morning hours this morning. The hiker was able to self-extricate and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Interviewing the hiker revealed that he had become disoriented while on the Weatherford Trail as the result of white-out conditions and had taken shelter until daylight.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and our Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind hikers and hunters to leave a detailed trip plan with a trusted person and be prepared for the unexpected night out in the event of an accident or other emergency.

They also recommend that you carry these Essentials:

  • extra water and food
  • warm clothing
  • compass or GPS
  • headlamp or flashlight
  • first aid kit
  • shelter material
  • fire starting kit
  • pocket knife
  • signaling equipment like a signal mirror and whistle.

These can be important tools to help you stay safe in the outdoors and to aid searchers in locating you.

“Suspicious” person in Flagstaff identified

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF – On September 24, 2014 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office issued a request to the public for assistance in locating and identifying a Native American adult female who was described as being heavy-set or overweight driving a maroon or red older model SUV possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe.

On September 12, 2014 the woman and vehicle were seen in the area of the school bus stop located at the intersection of Townsend Winona Road and Bluefield Road. A nine year old child reported the woman following her home and attempting to enter her house.

The Sheriff’s office received a call from one of the parents of the child involved who identified the person as the landlord of their home. No foul play was intended.

Suspicious Activity Involving a Child

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies are requesting assistance in identifying and locating a Native American female who offered a nine year-old child a ride as the child exited a school bus at the bus stop in her neighborhood. It is believed the driver of a maroon or red older SUV possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe followed the child to her home and attempted to make contact with occupants inside the house.

On Friday, September 12, 2014 at about 1:22 pm a Sheriff’s Dispatcher received a call of a trespass in progress with a child inside the home and an adult Native American female attempting to get inside. A deputy was met with the girl and her father at their Doney Park residence.

According to the child she exited the school bus at the stop located at the intersection of Townsend Winona Road and Bluefield Road. She noticed a red SUV parked by the exit door of the bus. As she walked by the vehicle a Native American woman in the driver’s seat asked the child if she wanted a ride home to which she replied no.

As the child proceeded to walk home she noticed that the red SUV was following her. The child then dropped her water bottle and ran home crossing several residential yards in the process. Once at her home the child saw the SUV drive up in front of her house and stop.

According to the child the woman exited her vehicle, approached the front door and knocked on it. The woman asked in a voice loud enough for the child to hear if anyone was at home. The child was so frightened by the woman’s actions that she hid in a room located within the home. Eventually the woman left the area.

The suspect is described as a heavyset adult Native American female. The vehicle is described as a red or maroon SUV, possibly an older model and possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe. Anyone with information regarding this incident or with information regarding the identity of the Native American female is asked to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at (928)774-6111.

Forest Service Officer Involved Shooting Update

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CLINT WELLS, AZ – The Forest Service Officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, September 19, 2014 in the Blue ridge area which resulted in the death of the individual who attacked the officer is ongoing.

The deceased man has been identified as sixty-six year old Courtney James VanRiper—also spelled Van Ripper—with a last known address in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is also believed that at some point Mr. VanRiper resided in an unknown city or town in Wyoming. Coconino County Sheriff’s detectives have not been able to identify or contact any of his next of kin. Mr. VanRiper’s name is being released at this point in the investigation with the hope that someone who knows him can assist investigators in identifying and contacting his family members.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the external portion of this investigation. The Forest Service Officer who conducted the contact with Mr. VanRiper has been identified as thirty-four year old Douglas A. Pederson. Officer Pederson has been employed with the Forest for 15 years in several capacities. Douglas Pederson has been a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer for 2 years.

On Friday, September 19, 2014 at 1:46 pm Officer Pederson contacted a Sheriff’s Office dispatcher by radio to advise he was contacting an individual who was camping in the area of the junction of Highway 260 and State Route 87 off of Forest Service road 616. It should be noted that the Sheriff’s Office provides dispatch and radio communication services to Forest Service Officers who work within Coconino County. During subsequent transmissions Officer Pederson advised dispatch that shots had been fired, requested emergency medical services immediately and gave his location.

Emergency medical personnel of the Pine/Strawberry Fire Department treated Mr. VanRiper at the scene and transported him to the Payson Regional Medical Center. Mr. VanRiper was pronounced deceased on Friday, September 19, 2014. Officers with the United States Forest Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations also responded to the location of the shooting.

At this point in the investigation detectives have learned that Officer Pederson observed a vehicle parked in an unimproved area of the forest at a temporary campsite. According to the officer he approached the camp and made contact with Mr. VanRiper. According to Officer Pederson Mr. VanRiper had the DVD player in the vehicle on so loud that communication was difficult. The officer asked him to turn the DVD player down.

While in the vehicle Mr. VanRiper spent a considerable amount of time sorting through items and the officer told him several times to come out of the vehicle. Once Mr. VanRiper exited his vehicle he had a large can of bear repellant/pepper spray which he used to spray at the officer striking him in his face.

Officer Pederson who was partially incapacitated and with impaired vision fired multiple rounds at the suspect striking VanRiper twice. Officer Pederson administered first aid to Mr. VanRiper until he was relieved by emergency medical personnel.

Detectives learned that Mr. VanRiper was the subject of an outstanding felony warrant for probation violation issued out of the Yavapai County Superior Court. The vehicle Mr. VanRiper was in possession of was reported as stolen out of Flagstaff, Arizona. Mr. VanRiper was also in possession of a stolen handgun.

White Buffalo Business Building Destroyed by Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – On Friday, September 12, 2014 at 3:59 am Deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a structure fire that was reported at the White Buffalo Trading Post in Kendrick Park on Highway 180 at mile post 256 north of Flagstaff.

The fire was initially reported by hunters in the area. Upon arrival, Deputies found the structure fully engulfed.

Summit Fire Department and Flagstaff Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. At this point in the investigation, the cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation.

This building has been unoccupied for several years. No citizens or firefighters were injured during the suppression efforts. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives and investigators with the Summit Fire Department are conducting a joint investigation. There is extensive damage to the structure.