Category Archives: Flagstaff

Person arrested in NAU shooting

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Steven Jones - Flagstaff Police Photo

Steven Jones – Flagstaff Police Photo

FLAGSTAFF — Steven Jones was arrested for the shooting death of a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. According to news reports, three other students were injured.

According to the KNAU website, the students shot were members of the Delta Chi fatenity, but 18-year-old Jones was not.

Colin Brough was killed in the shooting and Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientk and Nicoholas Piring were injured. Their site also references, “An Instragram account believed to be that of the NAU campus shooting suspect shows him posing with various firearms.”

Steven Jones made an intial court appearance for one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault this afternoon.

The cause of the shooting is still under investigation. Jones claimed that he retrieved the gun from his vehicle because he was being chased after a fist-fight and warned that he was armed.

Flagstaff Voices noted that Flagstaff council member Eva Putzova was quick to politicize the shooting. She is an outspoken advocate of revoking the Second Amendment in Flagstaff.

Council member Coral Evans also took to Facebook questioning how it was possible for an 18-year-old freshman to have a gun on campus.

NAU policy does not allow firearms in the buildings, but they may be locked up in vehicles.

Pedestrian killed in Flagstaff early this morning

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FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 02:57 a.m. this morning, officers were dispatched to a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle at 1601 S. Milton which resulted in the death of the pedestrian.

Officer responding to the scene located a Native American male who had been hit as he crossed from the west side of Milton to the east side near the Target entrance.

The driver who struck the pedestrian had been traveling north in the curb lane.

The Native American male was wearing dark clothing and was not inside a crosswalk at the time of the collision. The pedestrian was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver cooperated completely with the investigation and there was no indication of impairment. This investigation is pending next of kin notification of the deceased as well as further follow up.

Flagstaff Police seek assistance in neighborhood vandalism

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FLAGSTAFF — On October 7, 2015 at approximately 2200 hours (10pm) until 0200 hrs. on October 8, 2015 the Flagstaff Police Department received in excess of 15 calls for service regarding criminal damage to mailboxes and vehicles.

Officers were called to the Smokerise neighborhood, Foxglen neighborhood and the Amberwood neighborhood for complaints of battered mailboxes as well as shattered vehicle windows.

The Flagstaff Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects involved or anyone who might have information regarding these crimes. If you have any information regarding these crimes please call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928 774-1414. Please call SILENT WITNESS at 928 774-6111 if you have any information and do not want to leave your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward regarding these incidents.

Responders caught in flash flood while recovering body

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FLAGSTAFF — Yesterday around 4:30 p.m., approximately 16 Sheriff’s Deputies, Search and Rescue and US Forest Service responders were forced to higher ground during a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon.

The responders were conducting a body recovery for a suicide that occurred off Midgely Bridge. Due to a storm cell over the area that produced heavy rain, hail and lightning, rescuers had to delay removal of the body.

After the storm subsided, rescuers entered the canyon for the body recovery. While conducting the recovery, Sheriff’s Office personnel reported a flash flood in Oak Creek Canyon from the heavy rainfall over Wilson Mountain.

Rescuers were in the process of hoisting the body to the bridge when the flash flood occurred. The body was already above flood waters; however, responders below the bridge had to retreat quickly uphill away from rising waters. With several feet of fast moving water going through the canyon, three of the responders became briefly stranded on one side of the canyon.

They were not in danger and waited just under an hour to ensure storm cells had cleared and the water receded before they re-crossed.

Weather conditions to be severe through Wednesday

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640151005-04WILLIAMS — Severe thunderstorms are possible today and tomorrow easing up on Wednesday. Temperatures in Flagstaff and Williams should return to the lower 70s on Thursday.

Today there is a 100% chance of a severe thunderstorm dropping to 50% tomorrow during the day to 40% Tuesday night. On Wednesday the chance of rain drops to 10% clearing overnight on Wednesday. High winds are expected through Tuesday night.

The temperatures are expected to rise again to the lower 70s through the weekend in time for the Pumpkin Patch Train ride and the Owly, Howly, Growly fun at Bearizona.

Vegetation clearing on US 180 to begin tomorrow

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FLAGSTAFF — Travelers heading on US 180 north of Flagstaff should allow for extra travel time while ADOT crews perform vegetation clearing operations for a one-mile stretch just north of Shultz Pass Road (mileposts 219 to 220). This operation will clear out damaged and unwanted trees and requires a lane closure and occasional 10-minute roadway shutdowns during removal activity. The work will take place Monday through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and be in effect during the weeks of October 5th and October 12th.

Drivers are asked to allow for extra travel time to reach their destinations, use caution and observe reduced speeds while maintenance is being performed in the area.

Rescuers Respond to Paria Canyon Twice in Two Days

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, September 27, the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a sick hiker in Paria Canyon in very close proximity to where the previously described response occurred. The DPS helicopter based in Kingman responded, located the ill hiker, and landed. The individual was flown out of the canyon and subsequently refused any medical treatment.

Yesterday at about 5:00 pm, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Kane County Utah Sheriff’s Deputy who advised of a personal locater beacon spot activation in Paria Canyon approximately 8 miles upstream from Lees Ferry. The family members of the hikers in possession of the device, indicated to investigators that the distress signal was a level 2 which indicates the individuals initiating the signal are sick or injured and need help as soon as possible.

Due to the late hour of the day, the impending darkness and the rugged terrain, an air search was conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter based in Flagstaff—instead of a ground search. The helicopter left the airport at 5:30 pm and arrived at the location where the device was activated an hour later and began an air search.

Crew members spotted the hikers approximately 1 mile downstream from the initiation point. The pilot was able to safely land the helicopter and crew members made contact with the group of hikers. According to one of the individuals, he was changing the batteries in the spot locater and accidentally activated the level 2 emergency signal. None of the party members required transport and the DPS helicopter returned to Flagstaff.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety for the availability of air rescue helicopters and crews. This vital service is extensively utilized by the Sheriff’s Office throughout Coconino County on search and rescue assignments and a wide variety of other law enforcement related missions.

Missing Person Ethan Depler Found Deceased

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Coconino County Sheriff Photo

Coconino County Sheriff Photo

FLAGSTAFF — Twenty-one year old Ethan Depler of Chandler Arizona who was the subject of a missing person investigation by the Chandler Police Department and later believed to be somewhere in Northern Arizona was found deceased on Friday 9/25/15.

At approximately 2:30 pm on Friday the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a United States Forest Service employee who had previously received the missing person flyer on Ethan from the Sheriff’s Office. According to the caller he found Ethan’s vehicle as described in the flyer off of Forest Service Road 75 which is located north of Pittman Valley off of Interstate 40.

On duty Deputies from both the Flagstaff and Williams patrol divisions responded to the area and began a ground search. Within a short period of time Deputies located the body of Ethan Depler on a wooded knoll approximately 100 to 150 yards west of where his vehicle was parked.

Ethan’s body was removed to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. Detectives and Medical Examiner’s Death Investigators are considering the possibility that Ethan died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Bodies of Missing Persons Ashley Darby and Jeriah Hildwine Located

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hildwine-darby-2FLAGSTAFF — The search for missing persons 23 year old Ashley Darby and 35 year old Jeriah Hildwine came to a close on the afternoon of September 23 when they were located deceased approximately 1/3 mile from the parking lot of the Abineau/Bear Jaw Trailhead in a wooded area. Both appeared to have died from gunshot wounds; both appeared to have been deceased for several days.

Ashley Darby was reported missing by her father on September 3. Jeriah Hildwine was reported missing by his mother on September 8. They were reported to have been seen together at a lawyer’s office in Flagstaff, AZ on September 2. Friends and family were interviewed and attempt to locate information was given to area law enforcement agencies. Ashley and Jeriah as well as their vehicles were entered into the National Crime Information Center database as missing.

On September 19, 2015 Forest Service Fire Prevention Personnel located Ashley Darby’s vehicle in the parking lot of the Abineau/Bear Jaw Trailhead. Investigators found a note inside the vehicle indicating that the two intended to commit suicide. Search and Rescue personnel searched the parking lot and surrounding area that afternoon but were unable to locate either person or any further clues as to their whereabouts. Missing person fliers also were circulated as detectives continued to seek information to help locate them. Family members continued their own search in the Abineau/Bear Jaw area on September 22.

On September 23, Detectives and Search and Rescue teams, including two dog teams, returned to the Abineau/Bear Jaw area to continue search efforts. The bodies of both Ashley Darby and Jeriah Hildwine were located deceased in less than two hours of searching.

Further details are pending additional investigation and Medical Examiner review. Jeriah Hildwine also had been the subject of a recent sexual assault investigation.

Sheriff’s office attempting to locate two missing persons

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hildwine-darby-2FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s office is trying to locate two persons who may be suicidal.

Ashley DARBY is a 23-year-old white female, 5’6″, 175 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. She has been known to change hair color. She has Bass Cleft musical nots on each shoulder blade and a ppierced nose and piercing below the lower lip.
Jeriah HILDWINE is a 35-year-old white male, 6’5″, 270 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. His tatoos include Nordic crows on either side of head, dinosaur on back, “hobo alphabet” symbols on both forearms, dinosaur skeleton on chest, blue puzzle piece upper left chest, map on left thigh, dinosaur skull on right thigh. He has pierced ears and nose.

They were both last seen on September 2 at about 3 p.m. at a lawyer’s office in Flagstaff. Darby was reported missing by her father September 3 and Hildwine by his mother September 8. A vehicle known to be used by Darby was located in the Bear Jaw-Abineau trail head parking lot on September 19, along with a note indicating HILDWINE and DARBY intend to commit suicide.

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