Tag Archives: Forest Lakes

ATV Fatality Near Forest Lakes

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FOREST LAKES – On May 8, 2022, at about 1:00 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s  Office received a report of a missing 8-year-old child from a campsite near Bear Canyon Lake. Due to the remote location, Sheriff’s Deputies, DPS Troopers, and Forest Service personnel responded to the call. While responding, a second report was made that the juvenile had been located and had been involved in an accident.

The subsequent investigation revealed the Mesa area family had been camping near Bear Canyon Lake when the child went missing. The child had reportedly taken the family’s ATV. The family immediately reported the incident to the camp host and began looking for the missing child. A short time later family members located the ATV and the child down a steep embankment. The child was not breathing and was transported by private vehicle to a location where they met with medical personnel. The child was pronounced deceased on scene.

The investigation is ongoing by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available at this time. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Forest Service for their assistance.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to wear recommended safety equipment and follow all applicable state and federal laws regarding the safe use of ATVs while recreating. Please visit the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office website for more information.

Arrest made in the death of a man in Forest Lakes

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-CCSO booking photo

FOREST LAKES – On June 19, 2021, Chad Lapointe of Winslow, AZ was arrested for 2nd Degree Homicide in the death of a man following an altercation while camping in Forest Lakes, AZ.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an altercation in a camping area in Forest Lakes near the Mogollon Rim Visitor
Center. Upon arrival, the deputy was flagged down by a man and woman in a white truck near the entrance to the camping area. The man and woman were later identified as Chad Lapointe, 27, and
Simone Franklin, 25. They stated they had been camping with another male subject, identified as Simone’s brother, Brandon Franklin, 27.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined an altercation had occurred at the camp site. Through the investigation it was determined Chad and Simone had an altercation with Brandon at the camp site, during which Chad fought with Brandon. Brandon died on scene from injuries
sustained during the altercation.

As a result of the investigation, Chad was taken into custody and transported to the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff where he was booked on the charge of 2nd Degree Homicide.

We would like to thank the Department of Public Safety for assisting deputies with the initial response. Further investigation into this case in ongoing by the Sheriff’s Office
and Medical Examiner’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Snow cat Utilized in Medical Emergency

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FOREST LAKES – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Snow Cat and Search and Rescue volunteers were utilized to transport a patient from Young, AZ to waiting ambulance to a hospital in Payson, AZ.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office had deployed and pre-positioned a Snow Cat with a Search and Rescue crew to Forest Lakes in preparation for the heavy snow fall. The crew and machine were in place to respond to and support the communities of Forest Lakes and Heber in Navajo County.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Forest Lakes Fire Department over deployment of the Snow Cat. Forest Lakes Fire would support the operation with housing the crew and placing paramedics on the snow cat. Forest Lakes Fire had coordinated with surrounding Fire Departments and ambulance companies of the added resource of the snow cat.

Around 8:00 PM the Pleasant Valley Fire Department and Life Line Ambulance responded to a diabetic emergency in Young, AZ. Life Line Ambulance, knowing they could not make it to the call due to impassable roads, contacted Forest Lakes Fire requesting the snow cat response. The search and rescue crew with Forest Lakes Fire paramedics responded near Young.

The Snow Cat and crew traveled approximately 12 miles towards Young during heavy snow fall with visibility down to 10 feet. They arrived at the patient shortly after 10:00 PM where Pleasant Valley Fire transferred the patient to the Snow Cat and paramedics.

The crew traveled the 12 miles back to State Route 260, then transported the patient another 6 miles to ColCourd Camp Ground in Gila County (between Forest Lakes and Payson) and transferred the patient to Life Line Ambulance. Life Line was able to transport the patient to a hospital in Payson.

The Forest Lakes Fire Department, Pleasant Valley Fire Department, Life Line Ambulance, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement, Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Search and Rescue volunteers were involved in this operation

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the agencies for their pre-planning, communication, coordination and participation in making this operation and response a success.

Sheriff’s Office Investigating a Homicide of Elderly Male Whose Body was Found Near Forest Lakes

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FOREST LAKES – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of an elderly male whose body was found west of Forest Lakes, AZ.

On Sunday May 20, 2018 around 3:30 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a deceased person found lying along Forest Road 512 (to Young, AZ), less than ½ mile south of State Route 260.

A deputy responded from Forest Lakes and contacted the reporting party, a couple who had been driving in that area. The reporting party said they were travelling the Young Road around 3:30 pm and observed a male lying in the dirt approximately 20 yards off the side of the road in a pull-out area. They stopped to check on the male and could see he was obviously deceased.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office responded out of Flagstaff to conduct the investigation. They found the deceased victim with severe trauma to his body and head. The victim had no identification.

Investigators and crime scene personnel from the Arizona Department of Public Safety also responded to the scene and assisted in the investigation. The victim was transported to Flagstaff where an autopsy will be conducted by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The victim is described as a 60-70-year-old white male, about 110 pounds, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with gray hair that is longer but cut above the shoulders, gray beard and mustache, wearing a white “Head” sports polo style shirt, off white or light British tan colored shorts with a black leather belt, black socks and white New Balance tennis shoes.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help for information about this death or the identity of the victim. Please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-338-7888, option 1 for Dispatch or Silent Witness 928-774-6111.

Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Person in Chevelon Canyon July 23

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FOREST LAKES, AZ – At approximately 11:40 a.m. on July 23, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs that there was a personal locator beacon activation in the bottom of Chevelon Canyon near Telephone Ridge. The Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Forest Lakes Fire District, U.S. Forest Service, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Central Air Rescue Unit responded to the call. The response was impacted by severe thunderstorms in the area making travel on roads and trails hazardous.

Search and Rescue personnel located an injured fisherman in the bottom of the creek at approximately 5:00 PM. It was determined that the 48 year old male subject has sustained an ankle injury rendering him unable to hike out on his own. He had activated the personal locator beacon shortly after his accident and then established a make shift shelter as storms came through the area. The personal locator beacon transmitted his location via the SARSAT system to the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center who alerted the State of Arizona of the incident. SAR personnel used radio direction finding equipment to locate the subject.

SAR personnel and USFS personnel treated the subject on scene and then performed a litter carry to a nearby meadow in the bottom of the canyon. DPS Air Rescue responded from Phoenix after the storms had passed and landed in the meadow to pick up the subject at 6:30 PM. The subject was then flown to a waiting ambulance from Forest Lakes Fire District so that he could be transported to Payson Regional Medical Center for treatment.

This incident was another good example of the cooperative relationships between several emergency response organizations. The subject was well prepared for the situation which aided in his comfort while waiting for rescue.

Search and Rescue would like to remind those recreating in the outdoors to be aware of the weather forecast and be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions. In addition it is recommended that everyone recreating in the outdoors carry at least the 10 essentials which includes water, food, extra warm clothing, navigation equipment, headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, shelter material, fire starting kit, pocket knife/multi-tool, and signaling equipment.

Lighting Strike Kills One and Injures Several Others

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FOREST LAKES, AZ — A lighting strike in the Mogollon Rim area caused the death of a young female and injured several others when they sought shelter underneath a ponderosa pine tree during a thunder storm.

The Northern Arizona Regional 911 Center in Flagstaff, AZ received an emergency call around 4:20 PM Saturday June 27, 2015 for several people injured by a lighting strike.

Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies as well as United States Forest Service law enforcement officers, Blue Ridge Fire Department, Pine-Strawberry Fire Department and the Forest Lakes Fire Department responded to the location off of forest service road 321, just north of the Rim Road in the Blue Ridge area. This area is approximately half way between State Route 87 and Forest Lakes. Prior to emergency personnel’s arrival, dispatchers received the report of a female in the group who was not breathing and of several others who had unknown injuries.

It took responders a considerable amount of time to reach the victims due to the remote location of the incident. Medics and law enforcement officers found a 24 year-old female deceased and seven other victims with varying degrees of injuries.

It is believed the hiking group left the Phoenix area on Friday evening, traveling to the Mogollon Rim for a weekend of camping and hiking. On Saturday the group was on a hiking trip when they were caught by a severe thunder and lightning storm causing them to seek shelter underneath a stand of Ponderosa Pine trees.

Initial reports from on-scene Deputies indicated lighting struck one of the pine trees where the group stood, knocking most of them to the ground. Members of the group attempted to resuscitate 24 year old Christine Garcia of Orlando, FL who was not breathing however they were unsuccessful and she died at the scene. It does not appear the lightning strike hit anyone directly.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Ranger helicopter based out of Flagstaff responded to the scene. DPS Air Rescue was able to fly a critically injured male to the Flagstaff Medical Level One Trauma Center, where he is being treated for unknown injuries. Three less critical patients, two males and one female were transported by ground ambulance to Payson Regional Hospital for unknown injuries. Medical helicopters assigned closer to the area were unable to respond due to the storm cell over the area.

This investigation is being continued by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Forest Service.

Multiple Residential Burglaries in Forest Lakes Area

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating a series of five residential burglaries that were reported during the dates of February 24, 2014 through March 13, 2014. The burglaries have occurred in the Mule Springs area located south of Highway 260 and in the Mineral Loop area north of Highway 260. Residential structures and outbuildings have been targeted in the burglaries.

Method of entry may include both blunt force entry through exterior doors and entry through exterior doors in which the locks have been picked. The suspect or suspects may be targeting construction tools including power tools, air compressors and chain saws. Investigators are looking into the possibility that the burglaries that have occurred in the Forest Lakes area may be related to numerous burglaries that have occurred in the Heber area that are under investigation by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.

If you believe you see something suspicious such as a vehicle that you haven’t seen in the neighborhood before, a suspicious person that doesn’t appear to belong in the area, an unoccupied home that does not appear to be secure or any other indicator that a crime has occurred, or if you believe you have information regarding these burglaries, please call the Coconino County Sheriff Office at (928) 774-4523, toll free at (1-800) 338-7888, or Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111.
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Thirteen Year-Old Boy Seriously Injured After Fall

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Forest Lakes—On Saturday, August 31, at approximately 11:30 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the Forest Lakes area and Forest Lakes Fire Department personnel responded to Forest Service Road 237 at milepost seven on the report of a thirteen year-old boy who fell an unknown distance. At the time of the fall the child and his father were on a Bear Hunt in an area that is located approximately 1,000 feet below the top of Cheveleon Canyon in very rugged and steep terrain. Upon their arrival Emergency First Responders determined they were not equipped to safely access the location where the child came to rest.

The Deputy immediately requested the assistance of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Tonto Rim Technical Rope Rescue Team, and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Technical Rescue Team. Due to inclement weather including rain and thunder storms DPS helicopters stationed in Flagstaff and Phoenix both responded. Considering the serious nature of the child’s injuries and the inclement weather it was reasoned that with both helicopters responding at least one would be able to reach the location in a safe and timely manner.

Immediately following the arrival of the first rescue helicopter a crew member who was flown to the bottom of the canyon began to hike up to the victim’s location. Once he reached the victim the DPS Medic immediately administered advanced life support for injuries the child sustained as a result of the fall.

The child was removed from the canyon by the Short Haul method during which the victim was secured in medical basket and suspended underneath the helicopter as he was flown to a location where the victim was safely lowered to the ground.

Due to the inclement weather commercial medical air transport was not an option. Once the helicopter landed the aircraft was reconfigured to support a long distance medical flight. The helicopter carrying the victim flew to the Payson Airport where the airship was re-fueled.

The child was then flown to a Medical Trauma Center located in the Phoenix area. The child was then flown to a Medical Trauma Center located in the Phoenix area.

The second DPS Helicopter short hauled the child’s father to a location where he too could be safely lowered to the ground and eventually flew him to a DPS Air Rescue Hanger where he was transported by ground to the medical center where his child was being treated. The child received emergency medical care for serious head, facial and leg injuries.