Daily Archives: August 10, 2020

Update on Flagstaff inmate death July 31

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FLAGSTAFF – Next of kin notification has been confirmed by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The inmate, who died on July 31, is 32-year-old David Depoe whose last address is unknown. The autopsy and cause of death results are still pending by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Mr. Depue was arrested by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and was being held in-custody on a $50,000 bond for 4-Counts of Felony Theft, Felony Criminal Trespass, Felony Burglary, Misdemeanor Driving with Suspended License and Misdemeanor Fictitious Plate.

Initially it was reported that Mr. Depue had refused to answer any medical related questions asked by our Officers while at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Temporary Holding Facility in Page, Arizona. Upon review and further clarification Mr. Depue did answer questions related to COVID-19 contact and the Officer Initiated Medical Pre-Screening form. Mr. Depue did not disclose any medical or health related issues. When Officers noticed the cut on his finger, Mr. Depue stated he was aware of the cut, did not want any treatment for it, believed it to be infected and stated he treats his own wounds.

As stated in a prior media release, medical staff refused the acceptance of Mr. Depue into the holding facility until he was medically cleared for the cut on his finger by a medical facility. It has been confirmed that Mr. Depue did refuse to be treated while at the Page Hospital and when ultimately accepted into the holding facility, Mr. Depue continued to refuse to allow Officers to check vital signs or answer questions when our Officers attempted to get further health history. On July 30, Mr. Depue advised our Officers that he was not feeling well during two different times while they had contact with him. When our Officers asked him, what was wrong and tried to check his vitals he refused to answer and refused the vital check and said he was fine.

On July 31, while on the transport from Page to the Flagstaff Detention Facility, our transport Officer’s noticed that Mr. Depue may have been experiencing anxiety or panic like behavior and advised Mr. Depue to take deep breaths and try to relax. Shortly after that, Mr. Depue was not visible by the Officers so they pulled over and notified dispatch and asked for medics to respond. When one of the Officers went around to open the door to where Mr. Depue was sitting, the Officer said it appeared that Mr. Depue was having a seizure. While the Officer was trying to assess Mr. Depue and communicate with him, Mr. Depue went unresponsive and appeared to no longer be breathing. While the Officer was attempting to find a pulse, medics arrived on scene and the Officer advised that Mr. Depue was not breathing. Medics took Mr. Depue out of the van and began life saving measures to include CPR. Mr. Depue was then transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) by medics.

The prior media release stated a deputy at FMC advised that Mr. Depue had undergone surgery. Upon further clarification by the Officer and FMC medical staff, Mr. Depue did not have surgery. When medics arrived at FMC, Mr. Depue was moved immediately into a room where medical staff continued life saving measures for approximately one hour.

Due to FMC COVID-19 protocols non-essential individuals and Officers are not allowed to be in the room with the patient. The Officer had to stand outside of the room but could keep a visual of Mr. Depue through the clear curtain in the room. From what the Officer could see, it appeared that Mr. Depue was undergoing surgery, so he relayed that back to staff at the Flagstaff Detention Facility.

At Approximately 1:35 pm. FMC medical staff did advise the Officer that Mr. Depue did appear to be stabilized and would be moved to the Intensive Care Unit. It is confirmed that at 2:11 pm, Mr. Depue was pronounced deceased by FMC medical staff. The death is still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.

Eastern Arizona Counties Organization contributes $35,000 to Range Rider Program to reduce Mexican wolf depredations on livestock

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AZGF Photo

PINETOP — The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made a contribution of $35,000 to support the Range Rider Program managed by the Interagency Field Team (IFT) of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Project.

Created in 1993, the ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to the ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD assistant director for wildlife management. “One of the key activities the department is engaged in is reducing depredations on livestock in the wolf recovery area. This monetary contribution will go a long way toward increasing staff availability to livestock producers and the IFT to haze wolves from areas with active depredation activities.”

A range rider is a person who spends time in areas where wolves and cattle are in proximity and chases wolves from the area. It is a way of proactively deterring conflict between wolves and livestock. The range rider will work in much of eastern Arizona and will be directed to areas where high levels of depredations are occurring.

“ECO is pleased to provide this funding to AZGFD and the IFT,” said Jason Whiting, ECO chair. “Over the past two years, the number of depredations has increased as the wolf population increased, and this is impacting the region’s ranchers. Wolf depredations usually peak in early summer and continue into the fall, so this funding for the Range Rider Program will be put on the ground now.”

Richard Lunt, ECO vice chair, has been actively involved in wolf depredation prevention management. “Finding tools to reduce wolf impacts is important, and I am hopeful that the Range Rider Program proves to be a mechanism that works for a wolf recovery strategy that is compatible with livestock stability,” he said.

AZGFD’s deVos notes that Mexican wolf recovery has seen growth over the last decade, with the 2019 wolf count being 163, nearly a 24% increase from the prior year.

“As the wolf population continues to grow, reducing conflict over depredations is essential and something that the IFT works on daily,” he said. “This financial assistance from ECO will be put directly on the ground.”

Nominations sought for 2020 Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for the 2020 Commission Awards. The deadline for submission is September 4, 2020. The purpose of these awards is to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination. To nominate someone, download a form (visit https://www.azgfd.com/agency/commission/awards/) and follow the instructions on the form.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will select the 2020 Commission Award recipients at its September 25-26, 2020 meeting. The awards will be presented at the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, 11111 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020.

2020 AWARD CATEGORIES

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE:
Any individual, group, organization, club, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife, wildlife habitats, or programs of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

YOUTH CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR:
Any individual, 18 years of age or younger, who has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

MEDIA OF THE YEAR:
Any media source (radio, television, magazine, newsletter, or periodical) that has published articles or materials beneficial to public interest about wildlife or wildlife related topics and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR:
Any organization, group, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to enhance the welfare of wildlife, wildlife related recreation, and the mission of the Game and Fish Department.

CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR:
Any individual, not associated with a professional agency, which has excelled in efforts to enhance, conserve, and manage wildlife or their habitats.

NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who through a professional agency affiliation has excelled in efforts to enhance, conserve, and manage wildlife or their habitats.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who, as a registered volunteer with the Department, has excelled in efforts to support and benefit the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR:
Any individual whose educational activities have advanced and supported the welfare of wildlife, wildlife related recreation, or the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

MENTOR OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who has acted in the role of a mentor and whose efforts have resulted in the promotion and support of future wildlife conservation efforts and the development of future wildlife conservation leaders in Arizona.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR (Two Nominations):
Any individual that has engaged in political advocacy for the betterment of wildlife conservation and in the support of the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR:
Any business partner that actively promotes Game and Fish through innovative approaches, community involvement and a customer service focus that benefits the citizens of Arizona and supports the Game and Fish’s mission of wildlife conservation.

BUCK APPLEBY HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Any hunter education instructor who actively participates in hunter education activities and demonstrates the highest level of customer service, dedication and professionalism during these activities. Award category recently approved by the AZGFD Commission in honor of Buck Appleby, a long time hunter education instructor who passed away in 2010.

Fire restrictions to be implemented Friday for Coconino and Kaibab Forests

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FLAGSTAFF, WILLIAMS –— Due to lack of monsoon precipitation and key criteria being met for restrictions, the Coconino and Kaibab national forests will enter Stage 1 campfire and smoking restrictions Friday, August 14 at 8 a.m. The goal of the fire restrictions is to protect public health by reducing the number of preventable human-caused wildfires.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest lands.

Fire officials acknowledge it is rare for restrictions to be applied twice in the same year, however these decisions are based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, a variety of science-based indices, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. With no significant moisture predicted in the long term forecast, additional restrictions may be applied at any time conditions warrant which could include Stage 2 Fire Restrictions and additional closure areas as needed. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area covered by the restrictions receives significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

An explanation of the different stages of fire restrictions and what is typically prohibited during those stages can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/firestagesexplained.

The Kaibab National Forest will also temporarily close the Bill Williams Mountain watershed just southwest of the City of Williams due to the area’s susceptibility to uncharacteristically severe wildfire and post-wildfire flooding that could result.

There will be a modified boundary of this closure area on the south side of the mountain reducing the southern closure boundary from FR108 north to FR122.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the national forest while under fire restrictions is a violation that can carry a mandatory appearance in federal court. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during fire season.