Tag Archives: DPS

NEARLY $530,000 AWARDED TO AZDPS BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EQUIPMENT

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Phoenix — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has been awarded over $527,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, seatbelt enforcement details, collision reduction details, and the street racing task force. The grant funding will also support overtime staffing in Operational Communications and the State Crime Laboratory.

Funds will also be directed to the training of additional Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) and will also allow for the purchase of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) speed measurement devices and other speed measuring radars to be used for traffic enforcement by troopers.

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

  • $40,000 for seatbelt enforcement details
  • $100,000 for DUI enforcement
  • $30,000 for distracted driving enforcement
  • $152,369 for STEP speed enforcement and equipment
  • $30,000 for the Street Racing Task Force
  • $70,000 in overtime funding for the state crime lab
  • $15,000 for dispatch support for DUI & street racing enforcement
  • $90,000 for DRE training, materials & supplies

“Speed, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and seatbelt usage continue to be the leading causes of serious injury and fatal collisions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman Jr., Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division at AZDPS. “Thanks to the continued support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”

Update on Death and Attempted Stabbing Near Gray Mountain

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GRAY MOUNTAIN – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident that occurred on Highway 89N near Gray Mountain on 08/05/19. Detectives have identified the male subject that died on scene as 35-year-old Richard Osburn from Oklahoma. A preliminary autopsy finding by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office suggest that Osburn died from blunt force trauma to the head most likely sustained from the him falling from the vehicle onto Highway 89N. There were no other significant injures found on Osburn that would be responsible for or contribute to his death.

investigation showed that Osburn and his wife were traveling southbound on Highway 89N. Osburn was driving their vehicle when the vehicle traveled southbound in the northbound lane near the Sinagua Trading Post. Osburn eventually attempted to correct his position and traveled across the median of Highway 89N causing damage to the vehicle.

Osburn stopped their vehicle and was approached by other civilian motorists who were attempting to assist him. Osburn exited his vehicle and began acting aggressive towards them. During this time the couple from Conway, Arkansas arrived to assist. Osburn approached them continuing with his aggressive behavior. The Arkansas couple got back into their vehicle, with the female victim driving, and started to leave the scene.

They observed Osburn running at their vehicle as they pulled out on the highway. Osburn jumped onto the roof of the vehicle. The female victim accelerated onto Highway 89N southbound.

Osburn, while on top of the vehicle, produced a fixed blade knife and smashed the glass sunroof out of the victim’s vehicle. Osburn then pulled his upper torso into the passenger compartment of the victim’s vehicle and began grabbing at the female driver. During this time, Osburn attempted to stab the female driver with his knife. All the while the male victim was attempting to defend himself and the female victim from the front passenger seat. Eventually, the male victim was able to push Osburn back out of the sunroof.

The female victim initiated an evasive maneuver with the vehicle which caused Osburn to fall from the roof of the vehicle at speeds estimated between 60-70 miles an hour. At this point, it appears as though Osburn died as a result of the injury sustained when he impacted the roadway.

Obsurn’s wife was interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office in Flagstaff and has been cooperative with the investigation. She was released to a friend and Victim Witness services.

Coconino County Investigating Death and Attempted Stabbing Near Gray Mountain

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GRAY MOUNTAIN – On August 5, 2019 at 1:10 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers from Flagstaff responded to Highway 89N near Gray Mountain for a motor vehicle accident, stabbing and death.

The first deputy on scene arrived at 1:34 pm and closed the highway in both directions. The Deputy observed a male body in the middle of the south bound lane. The Deputy checked for vitals and none were found. The subject showed signs of multiple injuries and heavy bleeding. Witnesses advised that a vehicle just south of the location may have been involved and that there was a stabbing victim at the vehicle.

Investigation revealed a couple out of Arkansas were traveling southbound on Highway 89N when they stopped to assist a vehicle that had possibly been involved in an accident. When the couple approached the vehicle, a male suspect from that vehicle ran at them with one hand behind his back.

The male suspect armed with a knife jumped on top of the victim’s car and began to break the sunroof. A struggle ensued between the male passenger and the suspect on top of the car. The female driver attempted to drive away while the male passenger tried to push the suspect away from the car. While the victims were trying to drive off and while the two males were struggling, the vehicle swerved. The suspect fell off the top of the car into the roadway where he was located upon arrival of law enforcement.

Victim and witness accounts indicate the vehicle traveled approximately ¼ to ½ mile at estimated speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour before the suspect came off the roof and onto the road way. The male stabbing victim was treated on scene and transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for non-life-threatening wounds to his hands. The female victim was treated and released on scene by medics. The suspect’s wife was transport to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

This matter is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available at this time. The Arizona Department of Public Safety will be handling any road closure matters.

$6,000 reward for shooters of DPS officer

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From Phoenix police Facebook Page:

DO NOT LEAVE ANY TIPS ON FACEBOOK.

UP TO $6,000 REWARD!!! Phoenix Police and Silent Witness are looking for the DPS Officer shooting suspect RAMON BUENO and investigative leads, Danny Vargas and Vanessa Martinez.

If you have any information regarding this case you may contact
Silent Witness at W-I-T-N-E-S-S, that’s 480-948-6377, or toll free
at 1-800-343-TIPS. You can also leave an anonymous tip on the silent witness website at silentwitness.org.
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