Category Archives: Flagstaff

County Emergency Management to host EOC Open House

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The Emergency Operation Center in Flagstaff. – Photo courtesy of Glen Davis, KG7YDJ

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Emergency Management will host an Open House of the Emergency Management Center (EOC) for the public. The public will be able to tour the nerve center of disaster control for Coconino County and meet with emergency personnel from the various agencies involved.

The EOC activates when a major disaster occurs or during pending storms, such as the recent storm this month. The EOC was activated during the Tinder Fire in Blue Ridge in April of 2018. The fire received international attention. For a portion of the fire, the only communications available was between fire personnel and amateur radio operators of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) operating at the EOC.

It is an opportunity for the public to see what the EOC does during an emergency. It is of a modular design meaning that only portions of the EOC are activated necessary for the emergency. The design is based on a Federal Emergency Management Agency model used across the country.

Coconino County invites the public to bring their families to see what the county does in an emergency. Young people can learn about various volunteer organizations in the community, such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

The EOC will be open to the public on March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The EOC is located at 2201 N. Gemini Road in Flagstaff. Refreshments will be available.

Frontiere at Rogers Lake available for special events

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks & Recreation is currently accepting reservations for special events at Frontiere at Rogers Lake. The rental season is May 1 to Septeptember 30, with additional dates by request.

Located adjacent to the Rogers Lake County Natural Area, Frontiere at Rogers Lake has views of the San Francisco Peaks. The site may be reserved for overnight or day use. A reservation may include two buildings, the overall grounds, four RV sites and tent camping areas. To help protect the natural and cultural features, people are encouraged to incorporate sustainable event planning.

For more information on Frontiere at Rogers Lake, visit http://www.FrontiereAtRogersLake.com or call the Coconino County Parks & Recreation Department at 928-679-8000.

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.

Recent Snow Related Rescues – Reminder for Winter Recreation and Travel Preparedness

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FLAGSTAFF – CCSO Photo

– On February 17 at approximately 2:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an adult skier and an adult snowboarder, both from the Phoenix area, who were lost outside of the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Area boundary. An approximate location was determined from their 911 call which indicated that they were east of Viet Springs at the top of a cliff. Two deputy sheriffs and the Search and Rescue Unit responded to the call and hiked into the pair’s location. Once on scene the skier and snowboarder were provided with some water and snowshoes and then escorted out to the Viet Springs trail head on Snowbowl Road. Neither the skier nor the snowboarder was prepared for conditions outside of the ski area boundary. The area was under a winter storm warning at the time of the incident which made the conditions potentially more hazardous for both the subjects of the search mission and the rescuers. The pair was reunited with family members on Snowbowl Road.

Skiers and snowboarders who plan to exit the ski area and ski or ride in the backcountry are required to have a free Kachina Peaks Winter Backcountry Permit issued by the US Forest Service at their offices or at the Agassiz Lodge Bar on weekend days. Backcountry users need to be aware that the backcountry is not regularly patrolled, and no avalanche mitigation is conducted outside of the ski area boundary. All winter backcountry users should carry equipment for backcountry travel including food, water, navigation equipment, headlamp, emergency shelter material, extra warm clothing, first aid kit, knife or multitool, fire starting kit or backpacking stove, and whistle for signaling. If traveling in avalanche terrain an avalanche transceiver, a backcountry shovel, and an avalanche probe should be carried. A trip itinerary detailing the travel plans should be left with a trusted person.

With the upcoming winter storm, skiers and snowboarders will be tempted to exit the ski area boundary to ski or ride in the backcountry. A large amount of snow over a short period of time presents a potential avalanche hazard. It is best to wait at least a day or two after a heavy winter storm before entering the backcountry. Skiers and riders who plan to enter the backcountry should have avalanche education which can be obtained through the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center (www.kachinapeaks.org). Additionally, the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center publishes weekly Snowpack Summaries which discuss the snowpack on the peaks and potential hazards for backcountry travel.

After completing the mission near the Snowbowl, Search and Rescue responded to the Skinner Ridge area east of Tusayan to rescue two stranded motorists and a dog. The motorists, from Minnesota, had been following their vehicle GPS from the Tusayan area to Cameron and the GPS indicated that they should take Forest Road 302 and Forest Road 301A. The forest roads were snow covered and snow removal is not conducted on those roads. As they traveled they slid off of the road and became stuck and unable to free the vehicle. Due to the winter storm affecting the area, conventional vehicles could not access the area. Search and Rescue responded to the location using two tracked vehicles. The motorists and their dog were provided with transportation to Tusayan where they obtained a hotel room.

The Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind motorists to not blindly trust vehicle GPS or smartphone mapping tools when traveling. It is important to pay attention to road signs and road conditions to determine if the route suggested is a practical one. In many cases, especially in the winter, the GPS and smartphone apps do not take into account the weather or road maintenance and many motorists following those apps become lost or stranded due to the conditions.

Seven-mile stretch of Lake Mary Road (FH-3) to close due to snowstorm

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Public Works Department will close a seven-mile stretch of Lake Mary Road, also known as Forest Highway-3 (FH-3), at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 20 due to high winds and drifting snow from a large snowstorm that will impact the area starting tonight.

During this closure traffic will detour along the West Side Mormon Lake Road, which loops Mormon Lake and goes through Mormon Lake Village.

The closure will be in effect at the north entrance of Mormon Lake (near the scenic overlook) to the south entrance of Mormon Lake, which is about 35 miles southeast of Flagstaff. This section of Lake Mary Road will remain closed until weather conditions allow for the County to safely reopen the roadway.

The closure is due to high winds and drifting heavy snow caused by wind. When drifting occurs, visibility becomes limited and there is an increased difficulty for snowplow operators to keep the road clear of snow. To ensure the safety of drivers, they will be detoured along the alternate route through Mormon Lake Village.

A Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service is in effect from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 22. Total accumulations from this storm are forecast to be between 13 and 25 inches of snow around 7,000 feet with locally higher amounts approaching three feet of snow in some areas of the County. County Public Works crews will remain deployed to keep County roadways open and passable.

Snowfall during this storm is expected to be heavy and periods of blowing and drifting snow may lead to whiteout conditions with near zero visibility. Heavy snowfall will create dangerous travel conditions during this storm.

For questions about snow removal operations and related road conditions, please contact the following:

Coconino County: For County maintained roads, please call Public Works at 928-679- 8300 during normal business hours (7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).

County offices closed in observance of Presidents Day

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FLAGSTAFF — All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 18 in observance of Presidents Day.

While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed, Dispatch, Patrol and Detention will be open. Records will be open on Monday Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., with limited staffing. Please dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency Dispatch number or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices.

In the event of a snow storm or other impactful weather during the holiday, County Public Works crews will be deployed to keep County roadways open and passable.

Coconino County’s parks and natural areas will remain open during the holiday, but administrative offices at Fort Tuthill will be closed and limited staff or services will be available. The Fort Tuthill Bike Park is currently closed. Please do not sled on the Fort Tuthill Bike Park or you will damage the features which were built specifically for cyclists to hone their skills on jumps and flow trails. Drinking water has been turned off at all parks, but bathrooms are still available at Raymond, Peaks View and Sawmill County Parks. Water and bathrooms are available at Louise Yellowman County Park, located in Tuba City.

Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) Animal Management will have an officer on duty Monday, Feb. 18 from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Contact the CCPHSD Animal Management office at 928-679-8756, leave a message and an officer will respond.

Preventative Search and Rescue to Assist Snow Boarding and Skiing Community

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team conducts operations to assist skiers and snow boarders in the back country.

Each ski season when there is ample snow fall, skiers and snow boarders enjoy back country runs out of the permit area of the Arizona Snowbowl. People leaving the ski area off the south or front face of the San Francisco Peaks often intend to ski back to the Snowbowl, but find the terrain pulls them down hill and away from the Snowbowl. Many skiers and boarders get lost, stuck or injured and call for help.

For several years, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit has conducted what is known
as a Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) operations to mitigate the chances of people becoming lost or turned around. One such operation is to put a track from a snow cat on Forest Road 522,also known as the Freidlein Prairie Road. Should a person become lost, the track gives them a recognizable path back to Forest Service Road 516 (the Snowbowl Road) and has helped to reduce the number of search calls.

Last week, the Search and Rescue Unit conducted another preventative operation by
cutting snowshoe tracks along the Kachina Trail. The track was laid from Snowbowl to an area known as the “First Gully” in hopes of catching lost skiers earlier and higher up the mountain and giving them a path back to Snowbowl.

Out of bounds travel has some associated hazards. The backcountry is not patrolled,
and no avalanche mitigation is conducted in the backcountry. It is important that backcountry users be familiar with the conditions. Information about the snowpack is available from the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center. The Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center also offers avalanche safety education.

A Kachina Peaks Winter Backcountry Permit is required for backcountry travel in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness when accessing the Wilderness from Arizona Snowbowl and along the Snowbowl Road at Viet Spring and Freidlein Prairie Road.The permit can be obtained for free from the U.S. Forest Service. More information about the permit can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fseprd479744.

In addition to knowledge about the conditions, backcountry users should carry the 10 Essentials plus a charged cell phone and spare battery, avalanche transceiver, backcountry shovel and avalanche probe.

The 10 Essentials are:

  1. Food
  2. Water
  3. Extra Warm Clothing
  4. Shelter
  5. Material (tarp, large leaf bag, space blanket)
  6. First Aid Kit
  7. Knife/Multi-tool
  8. Fire starting kit/backcountry stove
  9. Signaling equipment (whistle/signal mirror/Radio)
  10. Navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS)

Sheriff’s Office Investigates Flagstaff Police Officer Involved Shooting

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FLAGSTAFF – On February 3, 2019 at approximately 9:27 a.m., two Flagstaff Police Officers were leaving The Guidance Center in Flagstaff at 2187 N. Vickey Street on an unrelated call when an individual, identified as Henry Harold Russell, 47 years old, from Boise, Idaho, confronted the officers brandishing two knives. The confrontation escalated when Russell approached an officer having the knives raised toward the officer in a threatening manner. As the officer backed away from Russell, he gave Russell commands to drop the knives. Russell charged the officer with a knife in each hand, prompting the officer to discharge his weapon striking Russell. Officers on scene provided lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived. Russell was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and was later pronounced deceased.

The officers involved in the incident were not injured in the altercation. The Flagstaff Police Department Officer who discharged his weapon is identified as Officer Tyler Romney, a 3-½ year veteran of the department. Officer Romney is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, per department policy and procedure.

The Northern Arizona Officer Involved Shooting Team responded to the scene and immediately began the investigation, with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office as the lead agency. Initial Investigation indicates three shots were fired by Officer Romney, striking the suspect twice.

An autopsy was conducted on February 4th and the medical examiner’s report is pending toxicology. The examination at the time of autopsy found that Russell was struck twice by gunfire, one wound in the right leg and one wound in the back.

A review of the officer’s body worn camera shows Russell was armed and aggressively charging towards Officer Romney. Romney fired, and all three shots were fired within one second. The video footage shows Russell reacted by immediately turning to his right. A shot hit Russell in the leg and another struck Russell in the back as he continued to fall to the ground. Romney ceased firing as Russell was falling to the ground.

CCSO Detectives are investigating Russell’s background. Russell was convicted in Idaho in 2005 for Sexual Abuse of a Child under 16 years old and has served time in prison multiple times. That conviction required Russell to register as a Sex Offender. Russell had not registered with local law enforcement as required by law. Russell had recently been released from the Idaho Department of Corrections on December 3rd, 2018. Russell had not requested permission to leave the state according to Idaho Department of Corrections Parole, which is a violation of his parole conditions.

Detectives have confirmed that Russell was not a patient of the Guidance Center and it is unknown why he was at that location on February 3. Investigators found Russell had stayed at Flagstaff Shelter Services on January 28th. It is still unknown exactly how long he had been in the Flagstaff area. Russell did not have any known family in Flagstaff or connections to the Flagstaff area.

Russell had no contacts with local law enforcement in and around the Flagstaff area prior to the shooting. Additional information indicated that Russell had been admitted to the Flagstaff Medical Center as suicidal and an overdose in mid-January.

The investigation is on-going and more information will be made available as the investigation continues.

CERT and Citizens Police Academy Classes scheduled for February

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FLAGSTAFF – The next Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Training will be held Wednesday, February 20 to Friday, February 22, 2019. The sessions will be held at the Law Enforcement Facility, 911 E Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff. The times will be 8 am to 5 pm on Wednesday and Thursday and 8 am – noon on Friday. Attendance is required all three days to complet the course.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand for services. Number of victims, issues with communications, and road blockages can prevent people from accessing the emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People may need to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

CERT Training includes:

  • Session I, Disaster Preparedness
  • Session II, Disaster Fire Suppression
  • Session III, Disaster Medical Operations Part I
  • Session IV, Disaster Medical Operations Part II
  • Session V, Light Search and Rescue Operations
  • Session VI, Disaster Psychology and Team Organization
  • Session VII, Course Review and Disaster Simulation

For more information or to register contact the Community Programs Planner (928) 226-5089. You have to fill out a CERT registration form which can be downloaded here

The Citizens Police Academy is a multi-agency program sponsored by the Flagstaff Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Northern Arizona University Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The program is designed to promote awareness and understanding of what local law enforcement agencies do, thus fostering a partnership of trust and shared responsibility between interested law abiding citizens and law enforcement.

The 14 week class session begins Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Program participants meet on Wednesday nights, and on a couple of Saturdays. Wednesday night classes are held at the Brent F. Cooper Auditorium located at 911 E. Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, Arizona from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participation in this program is free of charge and open to all law abiding community members who are 18 years of age and older.

Topics covered during this program

  • Tour of the Coconino County Detention Facility
  • Overview of Felony Crimes and Criminal Investigations
  • Tour of the AZ Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory
  • Presentation on the Awareness, Prevention, and Enforcement of Drug Abuse
  • Overview of Traffic Enforcement and Highway Safety Programs
  • Presentation by NACASA and Victim Witness
  • Presentation on the Awareness, Prevention and Investigation of Family Crimes
  • Panel Discussion on the Criminal Justice System
  • Demonstration by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit and the AZ DPS Air Rescue Division
  • Presentation on Highway Drug Interdiction and a Police Canine Demonstration
  • Utilization of the Judgmental Use of Force and Driver’s Training Simulators
  • Hands-on Live Firearms Demonstration at the Range
  • Explosive Device Demonstration

For more information or to register for this program please call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-556-2300 or the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-226-5089.

CCSO Search and Rescue respond to report of overdue skier

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FLAGSTAFF – On February 3, 2019 at approximately 5:00 PM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit responded to a report of an overdue skier who had left the ski area boundary at Arizona Snowbowl and entered the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. The skier, a 16-year-old male from Flagstaff, became separated from his group and the rest of the group returned to the Arizona Snowbowl where they made the report to the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Patrol. The skier was reported to be equipped with only his skis and cell phone and no other survival equipment. At the time the report was made, it appeared that the skier’s cell phone had been powered off or had run out of battery.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit along with the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Patrol initiated an investigation and search for the skier. At approximately 5:45 PM the Sheriff’s Office located the skier on Snowbowl Road at approximately milepost 3. The skier was uninjured and was provided a ride to the Agassiz Lodge to be reunited with his family and friends. While this situation turned out well, it had the potential to be a dangerous situation for the skier.

This incident was the third lost out of bounds skier / snowboarder call received by either the Sheriff’s Office or the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Patrol on Sunday. With the recent snowfall and the expected heavy snow through mid-week, it is expected that more skiers and snowboarders may elect to ski out of bounds. Skiing or snowboarding outside of the ski area boundary carries with it some risk. The area outside of the Arizona Snowbowl boundary is not patrolled and avalanche mitigation is not conducted in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. Most skiers and snowboarders who leave the ski area boundary intend to return to the ski area, but terrain tends to force them to the south and away from the ski area.

WHAT YOU SHOULD CARRY

Those who recreate outside of the Arizona Snowbowl boundary should carry the following equipment; extra food and water, extra warm clothing, navigation equipment (map, compass, and GPS), headlamp, first aid kit, shelter material (large leaf bag or space blanket), fire starting kit or backpacking stove, pocket knife/multi-tool, whistle, avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, backcountry shovel, and a cell phone with a back-up battery pack.

Amateur radio repeaters are also located on Mount Elden. If you have an amateur radio, you can program 146.980 with a 162.2 CTCSS and negative offset and 147.140 with a 162.2 CTCSS with a positive offset. In the Williams area, the Bill Williams repeater is 146.780 with a 91.5 CTCSS and negative offset.

Wilderness users should also avoid traveling alone. Education about the winter backcountry hazards including avalanche should be sought out. Avalanches often occur within 24 hours of a storm and heavy snowfall amounts over a short period of time, high winds which deposit snow in starting zones, or signs of instability in the snowpack warrant concern in the backcountry.

The Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center offers weekly snowpack summaries that highlight the hazards in the snowpack as well as offer educational classes about avalanche. More information about the snowpack summary and courses available can be found at www.kachinapeaks.org.

A free Kachina Peaks Winter Backcountry Permit is required for backcountry travel in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness when accessing the Wilderness from Arizona Snowbowl and along the Snowbowl Road at Viet Spring and Friedlein Prairie Road. The permit can be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service and more information about the permit can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fseprd479744.