Tag Archives: Flagstaff

Missing Two-Year Old in Happy Jack Area Located Safe

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Coconino Sheriff Photo

Flagstaff – After several hours of searching, emergency responders located a two-year old boy who had wandered away from a family campsite in the Happy Jack, AZ area.

On September 21, 2018 around 9:45 am, a two-year old boy was reported as missing from his family’s campsite in the Happy Jack, AZ area. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office managed the search efforts and was assisted by several Northern Arizona agencies including, Coconino Sheriff Search and Rescue, US Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish, Arizona Department of Public Safety. A Search and Rescue Dog Team and an AZ Department of Public Safety helicopter were deployed as part of the search efforts.

Search and Rescue personnel located the boy approximately ½ mile from the place he was last seen. He was walking and appeared to be responding to the calling out of his name by the searchers.
We are happy to report the boy and his family have been reunited. We express gratitude to the other agencies and personnel who assisted in the search.

Daytime maintenance project narrows US 180 to one lane in Valle, east of Flagstaff on Friday, September 21

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers that US 180 will be narrowed to one lane of alternating north- and southbound travel on Friday because of pavement-preservation work.

The work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should plan for delays of 20 minutes or more while work is underway. Traffic-control personnel will direct motorists through the work zone.

Crews are working in 4-mile increments along a nearly 18-mile work zone just outside of Valle, east of Flagstaff.

The restriction is needed while crews apply a pavement surface treatment, which helps extend the life of the roadway.

SCAM ADVISORY – Recent Scam Targeting Mental Health Providers

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FLAGSTAFF – Today we’ve received at least two phone calls from mental health providers who have received fraudulent phone calls saying that they are being contacted regarding an emergency. In both cases, the scammer spoofed a legitimate phone number of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (928-226-5009) and the caller ID information (Coconino Cnty).

The scammer contacted them via their Psychology Today services. The scammer claimed to be an officer with the Sheriff’s Office (although he may vary this approach and use other aliases). The scammer said he was calling regarding an urgent or emergency situation. He provided a non-legitimate phone number requesting call back.

Variations of the scam may include claims that there is a pending lawsuit or civil issue that needs immediate attention. It is our belief that the scammer hopes the intended victim will call him on the phone number he leaves in his message rather than calling back to an official Sheriff’s Office number. It is likely the scammer is intending to fraudulently obtain either personal information or some type of payment from you.

Consider looking up and calling the legitimate (e.g. official website verified) phone number of an agency to verify claims made by the person calling you. Phone scammers are likely hoping you will try to call them back on other phone numbers they provide which then may compromise your private cell or home phone numbers to be used in their future scam schemes. Do not allow them to bully you.

Call the Sheriff’s Office on one of our legitimate phone numbers to report scams or if you have questions. Visit us at coconino.az.gov/sheriff for legitimate information on how to contact our office.

12-Year-Old Rescued After Being Injured in Climbing Accident

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FLAGSTAFF – On September 9, 2018 at approximately 1:20 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit responded with the Flagstaff Fire Department and Guardian Medical Transport to a climbing accident at the climbing area known as The Pit which is accessed from the Canyon Vista Campground. Information gathered was that a 12-year-old male who was climbing with family members had fallen approximately 20 feet and was injured and in need of rescue.

Responders from Guardian Medical Transport, Flagstaff Fire Department, and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue hiked into the climber’s location and initiated treatment and transport out of the canyon in a basket litter to a waiting ambulance at the campground. The climber sustained a head injury and a wrist injury and was transported by ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment. The climber and his family were from the greater Phoenix area.

Investigation into the accident revealed that the climber was lead climbing a route known as The Microwave and fell while he was attempting to clip his rope to the third bolt fixed on the route. When he fell, the carabiners connected to the second bolt and first bolt broke causing the climber to land at the base of the climb after falling approximately 20 feet. Upon inspection it was determined that the carabiners that broke were not rated for climbing.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind climbers to routinely inspect their equipment and ensure that the equipment they are using is rated for the activity that they are engaging in. Failure to use properly rated equipment could lead to a serious accident.

Sheriff’s Office Labor Day Holiday Activity Summary

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COCONINO COUNTY – The extended weekend encompassing August 31 – September 3 resulted in a large number of calls stemming from outdoor activity in Northern Arizona. The following is a summary of activity as best can be determined from dispatch and officer information available at the time of this media release.

During the extended Labor Day 2018 weekend, deputies responded to over 513 calls for service compared to 383 the previous Friday through Monday. These totals are comparable to the numbers of calls responded to over the 4-day weekend encompassing Memorial Day 2018 (455 calls) and the non-holiday weekend before Memorial Day 2018 (350).

In addition, deputies conducted 316 forest and community patrols and 83 traffic stops over the Labor Day weekend compared to 360 forest and community patrols and 47 traffic stops the previous, non-holiday weekend.

Deputies made multiple contacts with off-road vehicle operators and passengers throughout the county to promote off-road vehicle safety. A common safety violation they encountered was helmet violations. Deputies also made multiple contacts with boat operators and passengers on Lake Powell to promote water safety.

Common calls that deputies responded to over the Labor Day weekend included:

  • 46 disturbing the peace complaints (including off-road vehicle, weapons discharge/target shooting, fireworks, loud parties, complaints about neighboring campers, barking dog issues, etc.)
  • 38 emergency medical situations
  • 46 motorist and public assists (several calls related to public assists at the Coconino County Fair including 5 calls for lost children)
  • 45 assists to other agencies and attempt to locates
  • 35 suspicious activity incidents
  • 17 domestic disputes, assaults, threatening/intimidating related incidents
  • 22 (911) hang-up and alarm related calls
  • 12 fire related calls
  • several Search and Rescue calls (see below for synopsis)

Vehicle Collisions: The Sheriff’s Office received reports of 11 off-road vehicle collisions resulting in injuries.

Seven other vehicle collisions occurred on regular roadways. In all but one medical transport was either refused or not needed. Three of the collisions involved animals crossing the road.

Summary of off-road, recreation travel collisions:

  • August 31 around 10 pm – report of four males injured in off-road collision in the area of forest road 82 (near Blue Ridge). Vehicle reportedly struck a tree ejecting three people. Two patients in critical condition were transported by air, and two other patients were transported by ground medics.
  • August 31 around 11:30 pm – report of adult male injured in ATV rollover accident in the forest area outside of Munds Park. Upon arrival, no one was located at the scene, but the vehicle was still present.
  • September 1 around 8 am – report of adult male and teenage male injured in off-road vehicle accident in the Bear Canyon Lake area. Air medical also responded for patient transport.
  • September 1 around 12:45 pm – report of a teenage male involved in quad rollover accident in forest south of Flagstaff. The camping group self-transported him to medical care.
  • September 1 around 2 pm – report of male injured in dirt bike accident in the forested area around Pumpkin Center. The patient was transported by family to medical care.
  • September 1 around 4 pm – report of female injured in a boat accident near Anchovy Point, Lake Powell
  • September 1 around 4 pm – report of male injured in ATV accident in forested area around Willard Spring. One person was transported by ground medics.
  • September 2 around 9:30 am – report of “side-by-side” that flipped. Parties self-transported to medical care.
  • September 2 around 10:45 am – report of female injured in ATV accident in forested area near Kelly Canyon. Patient was transported by ground medics.
  • September 2 around 5 pm – report of 9-year-old boy and two adults injured in off-road vehicle collision in the Cinder Lakes recreation area. The passenger and boy were transported by ground medics.
  • September 2 around 6:30 pm – report single vehicle collision involving two young adults and their baby on forest road in the area of Walnut Canyon. One person was transported by ground medics.

Seven other vehicle collisions occurred on regular roadways. In all but one medical transport was either refused or not needed. Three of the collisions involved animals crossing the road.

Traffic / Moving Vehicle Stops: Deputies throughout the county conducted 83 traffic stops during the extended weekend, resulting in 18 citations and 15 written warnings.

Search and Rescue:

  • August 31 around 3:45 pm – report of a male hiker in West Fork who was in possible need of medical attention. Hiker later reported to no longer need assistance.
  • September 1 around 11 am – female was injured during fall in the area of West Fork. Patient required transport by rescue person via a litter carry to the trailhead / parking area.
  • September 1 around 3 pm – two young adult males were reported overdue to their campsite. They had been driving ATVs when they left their camp earlier in the morning. The were located and escorted back to their camp.
  • September 1 around 6 pm – deputy in Forest Lakes area located three lost hikers in the Bear Canyon area and provided them rides back to their camp
  • September 1 around 9:30 pm – received report of separated parties hiking Humphreys Trail. Parties were able to self-reunite and no longer needed assistance.
  • September 2 around 12:30 pm – a 21-year-old female on a 21-day group hike was reported to be in anaphylaxis. Several agencies were involved in the search to attempt to locate the patient in the area of Chevelon Lake and Horse Trap. The patient was transported by Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue.
  • September 2 around 5:45 pm – report of 7 teenagers overdue to their campsite at Bear Canyon Lake. Game and Fish officers assisted and learned all had returned safely to the camp.
  • September 3 around 9:45 am – report of a female hiker who had been stuck in quick sand in the Paria Canyon near Big Springs since the previous afternoon. Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue and Search and Rescue responded to rescue the person.
  • September 3 around 8:30 pm – assisted Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in response to multiple vehicles caught in swift moving water and mud in the area of Perkinsville Road and Drake Road (south of Williams, AZ)

Deaths:

  • On September 1, 2018, deputies responded to a male subject who committed suicide at a residence in Greers Trailer Park.
  • On September 1, 2018 deputies responded to a male subject who was found unresponsive in a bathroom at Knoll Lake.

Detention Facility: The Coconino County Detention Facility Flagstaff Facility which receives arrested persons from multiple agencies throughout Northern Arizona (including: Coconino Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, Northern Arizona University Police, Williams Police, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, as well as federal and state agencies) processed 105 bookings from August 31, 2018 through September 3, 2018. The majority of these booking occurred at the Flagstaff facility; 18 bookings occurred in the Page facility.

Of those bookings, 34 had felony related charges. Bookings by type of offense included (but were not limited to), 6 aggravated assault, 8 other assault, 8 DUI’s, 29 wants or warrants (e.g., failure to appear, failure to comply, probation violation, other warrants), 10 disorderly conduct, 9 drug offenses, 8 court remands, 4 trespass offenses, 4 driving offenses, 1 sex offense, 1 endangerment offense, 1 burglary offense.

Thank you to the other agencies who assisted: The Sheriff’s Office thanks all those individuals and other public safety agencies that assisted with responses during this holiday weekend and in helping to keep our community safe.

Grant funds Bike Park construction

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Parks and Recreation was awarded a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the Arizona State Parks and Trails for infrastructure improvements and visitor amenities, including a restroom, at Fort Tuthill County Park. The grant award of $150,620 will also fund the construction of trails and additional features at the Fort Tuthill Bike Park.

Construction of the Bike Park’s new trails and features began August 27. The completion of Phase 2 will include adult pump tracks and Phase 3 will include technical flow trails.

Coconino County Parks and Recreation has an agreement with non-profit Flagstaff Biking Organization (FBO) to build the Fort Tuthill Bike Park. FBO is contracting with American Conservation Experience (ACE), who is sub-contracting with FlowRide Concepts, a professional company that specializes in building bike parks across the country. FBO, ACE and FlowRide Concepts successfully built Phase 1 of Fort Tuthill Bike Park, which opened to the public in 2015.

The construction area is next to the existing trails at Fort Tuthill Bike Park and has been sectioned off and is closed to the public. There are no immediate closures to the Bike Park scheduled, however some minimal closures may occur for maintenance of the area. Construction of the Bike Park and restroom are expected to be completed by Fall 2020.

Statement from the Board of Supervisors on the passing of Senator John McCain

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FLAGSTAFF – “The Coconino County Board of Supervisors were deeply saddened to learn that Senator John McCain lost his battle with brain cancer this past weekend. Senator McCain was a tremendous statesman and dedicated public servant for the country and to the people he served. We were always grateful for the honest conversations we had with him in Washington D.C. and here in the County.

We will remember him most for always putting politics aside and coming to the aide of County residents. For example, during disasters such as the Schultz Fire and subsequent flooding, the Slide Fire and other events throughout the County, the Senator was instrumental in securing funding for disaster assistance, changing the law so residents could get flood insurance in the future and in mediating boundary disputes.

As a County, we worked with the Senator and his staff throughout his outstanding legacy on a wide breadth of issues from federal funding to the establishment of national monuments. He was always there when it mattered for the citizens of Coconino County and we will be forever grateful for his partnership.

His influence will continue to have a lasting impact on Coconino County, the State of Arizona and the Nation. We extend our deepest sympathies to Senator McCain’s family and friends.”

ACLU and Illegal Alien Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit Against Coconino County Sheriff

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FLAGSTAFF – – Plaintiff Guillermo Tenorio-Serrano was arrested by the Arizona Department of Public Safety on December 11, 2017, for driving under the extreme influence of intoxicating liquor. At the time of his arrest, Tenorio-Serrano blew .203 and .195 on the DPS Intoxilyzer. Tenorio-Serrano was taken to the Coconino County Detention Facility.

On December 12, 2017, the United States Department of Homeland Security, through ICE, sent a Notice of Action – Immigration Detainer and a Warrant for Tenorio-Serrano to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The Detainer stated that there was probable cause to believe that Tenorio-Serrano was a removable alien and requested that the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office maintain custody of him for a period not to exceed 48 hours beyond the time he would otherwise be released in order for ICE officers to take custody of him.

Tenorio-Serrano and the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against Coconino County Sheriff James Driscoll and Jail Commander Matthew Figueroa and alleged that the Sheriff’s policy of holding pretrial detainees after they have satisfied conditions for release on state charges, was unlawful and violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 2, Section 8, of the Arizona Constitution. Tenorio-Serrano and the ACLU sought a preliminary injunction ordering his immediate release.

Prior to the lawsuit, Sheriff Driscoll stated that it was his understanding that state law required the jail to cooperate with federal authorities and honor ICE detainer requests. The Sheriff further stated that he intended to cooperate with the lawful requests of federal authorities. He noted that the intent of Arizona state law is that state law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal agencies enforcing the immigration laws of the United States. The Sheriff also made it clear that “if a court having jurisdiction over us changes the law, we’ll change our policy to comply with that immediately.”

After legal briefing and oral argument, United States District Court Judge David G. Campbell ruled against the ACLU and Tenorio-Serrano on July 5, 2018. Judge Campbell determined that Tenorio-Serrano and the ACLU did not have “a fair chance of success on the merits,” and denied the request for a preliminary injunction.

Judge Campbell noted that the Sheriff would face serious hardship if the Court ordered him to refrain from complying with ICE detainers. The Judge further noted that an injunction would interfere with Sheriff Driscoll’s judgment as an elected official, would interfere with the Arizona Legislature’s policy determination that Arizona should cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and might interfere with Arizona’s interest in preventing unlawful immigration as specifically recognized by the United States Supreme Court.

On July 30, 2018, Tenorio-Serrano, through his ACLU attorneys, moved to dismiss the class action lawsuit against the Coconino County officials. On August 20, 2018, Judge Campbell dismissed Plaintiff’s lawsuit.

As a result of the District Court’s ruling, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will continue to cooperate with federal authorities and honor ICE detainer requests. Sheriff Driscoll recognizes that there are different approaches to immigration policy. His main priority as a sworn law enforcement officer, however, is the safety of his community and the enforcement of the laws that he swore to uphold as the chief law enforcement officer of Coconino County.

Critical Incident Response Training to be held in Downtown Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – On August 14 and 15, 2018 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a Critical Incident Response Training that involves personnel from several Northern Arizona law enforcement agencies as well as personnel from local area fire departments.

We want our residents, business owners, and visitors to be aware that this training will result in increased police and fire activity in the area. The training will occur between 8 am and 5 pm on August 14-15 at the former San Francisco de Asis School, located at 320 N. Humphreys St. Flagstaff AZ, 86001.

The training will be a reality-based exercise to provide first responders additional tools to use when faced with an integrated response to critical incidents.

The Sheriff’s Office along with the other agencies would like to thank St. Francis De Asis Parish for providing the venue for this training.

I-17 traffic restrictions south of Flagstaff through early November

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Drivers on Interstate 17 in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays because of traffic realignment and ramp closures at Willard Springs Road, 17 miles south of Flagstaff near Munds Park. Crews are replacing the Willard Springs Road bridges on I-17 and will close access under the highway.

Drivers should prepare for delays while the following detours are in place:

  • Northbound I-17 drivers heading to Willard Springs Road will be detoured to Newman Park Road to exit and re-enter southbound I-17.
  • Drivers exiting Willard Springs Road toward northbound I-17 will be detoured southbound I-17 to Pinewood Road in Munds Park to exit and re-enter northbound I-17.

Drivers in both directions of I-17 will be re-routed around the bridge construction at Willard Springs Road onto the on- and off-ramps at reduced speeds.

For more information, email MKirby@azdot.gov or call Mackenzie Kirby, Community Relations project manager, ADOT Northcentral District, at 928.525.6494. Information is also available on the project web page.

Schedules are subject to change because of weather and other unforeseen situations. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.