Category Archives: Flagstaff

I-17 southbound exit 337 (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Exit) to be temporarily closed just south of Flagstaff for three hours

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FLAGSTAFF – Access to Exit 337 which accommodates I-17 Southbound travel to the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, and access to Sedona via SR 89A will require a temporary full ramp closure this coming Friday, Dec. 12 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. This closure is necessary to accommodate the removal of concrete barriers on the ramp.

Southbound traffic can still travel to the Airport and to Sedona via SR 89A (Beulah Blvd.) from the City of Flagstaff or may instead continue on I-17 southbound to Exit 333, then travel back north up to Exit 337.

The temporary closure will be completed Friday morning with no additional closures anticipated. Please allow for extra travel time during the scheduled ramp closure, and drive with caution in the project vicinity.

Forest service announces job fair in Flagstaff

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forest-01FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are hosting two Job Information Sessions to provide information on employment and career opportunities with the Forest Service.

The first session is scheduled for Dec. 12 from 1 to 6 p.m. The second session is Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Both sessions will be held at the Flagstaff YMCA, 1001 N. Turquoise Dr., Flagstaff.

Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Kidnapping Suspect

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Bertrand Eugene/Sheriff Photo

Bertrand Eugene/Sheriff Photo

FLAGSTAFF – On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the emergency department of the Flagstaff Medical Center on the report of the kidnapping of an eight year old boy. Deputies spoke with a man who identified himself as the grandfather and legal guardian of the victim and his ten year old brother.

According to the victim’s grandfather a family friend—who was identified as 51 year old Bertrand Eugene of Flagstaff—came to his home located off of Leupp Road on Wednesday at about 4:30 a.m. The two men spoke while standing in the front yard of the residence. According to the victim’s grandfather Bertrand Eugene said he wanted to take the eight year old victim to Alabama with him. The grandfather said no, ended the conversation and went back into his home. The grandfather said Eugene remained in the area of the front yard.

At about 6:30 a.m. the grandfather left the residence leaving the two boys with their grandmother. According to the eight year old victim he heard a knock at the front door and when he opened it he heard Eugene calling for him to come outside. As the victim exited the house the suspect grabbed him and forced him into the cab of Eugene’s vehicle.

The ten year old boy watched as this occurred and as the vehicle began to move he ran in front of it and Eugene swerved the vehicle around him. As the vehicle passed the boy he jumped onto the rear of the truck bed but quickly fell to the road surface resulting in minor injuries. The eight year old victim climbed out of the rear sliding window of the truck cab and jumped from the moving vehicle onto the road surface receiving minor injuries.

The suspect fled the area in his vehicle.

Deputies and Detectives began an active search for Eugene. Area law enforcement agencies were quickly advised of the occurrence and of the description of the suspect and his vehicle. Detectives also contacted law enforcement authorities in Alabama and advised them that Eugene may be on his way to that state.

On Thursday, December 4, 2014 Deputies responded to the area of Townsend Winona Road and Hidden Hills Road on the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon their arrival they made contact with one of the occupants of the truck and identified him as Bertrand Eugene.

Eugene was arrested on the charges of Kidnaping, Aggravated Assault and Endangerment. He is currently being held in the Coconino County Detention Facility. This case was submitted to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for review and additional felony charges are anticipated.

Sweat Lodge Provides Inmates Access to Traditional Ceremonies

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SweatlodgeFLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has several programs to address the traditional needs of our inmate population. One of these programs is the provision of a sweat lodge ceremony, and recently our facility conducted two Sweat Lodge Ceremonies for inmates.

For some Native American cultures the Sweat Lodge Ceremony provides purification and balance of body, mind, spirit and emotions and can serve as a Prayer Circle, or a Healing Circle transforming the Old Self into the New Self. Rocks are heated in a fire pit outside the structure and then brought inside and placed in a small hole in the ground; there is no fire inside the structure. The ceremony is conducted in four parts and might last as long as three hours with breaks. A traditional Messenger helps perform the ceremony. We plan to make Sweat Lodge Ceremonies available to the inmate population on a monthly schedule.
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This is one of many programs our facility and staff offer to help inmates initiate positive life changes. The programs include opportunities for life changes supported by spiritual, religious, educational, health, and substance abuse treatment approaches. While the Sheriff’s Office strives to make available recognized religious, recovery and a variety of self-improvement programs to the diverse cultures representing in the inmate population, we also recognize that approximately 50% of the people in our custody are of Native American descent. For this reason our programs include Sweat Lodge and a Hogan which may be unique compared to programs offered at facilities elsewhere in U.S. detention facilities. Partnership with the Navajo Behavioral Health Services has been vital to the success of many of these programs.

At the Coconino County Detention Facility we believe that time spent incarcerated can be turned into productive time, and inmates can leave our facility with improved life skills and a determination to make positive changes in their lives. Many of the programs provided to inmates are funded by the Inmate Welfare Fund which comes from commissary and phone usage fees. We are committed to enhancing inmate programs which benefit not only the inmates in custody but also can have broader reaching effects on our community as a whole.

Missing Person Thomas Lang Found Deceased

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thomas langFLAGSTAFF – Sadly, searchers believe they have located the skeletal remains of 22 year old Thomas Lang who was originally reported as an overdue hiker on December 18, 2013. His parents have spent many weekends since the formal search was suspended, hiking areas where they believe their son might be located.

On Saturday, November 29, 2014 Thomas’s parents were searching for their son in the Secret Canyon area located within Yavapai County. Thomas’ mother, called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue advising she believed she found a jacket and shoes that possibly belonged to her son.

Yavapai and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue units coordinated a further search effort. The Arizona Department of Public Safety launched one of their Air Rescue Helicopters with a Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteer on board to conduct overflights of the area where the items were located. During the flight two additional items consistent with what Lang was believed to have taken with him on his backpacking trip were located from the air.

640px-LANG1On Sunday morning a multi-agency intensive ground search was commenced. Agencies who assisted with the search included Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, Yavapai County Sheriff’s helicopter and Thomas Lang’s parents. At about 10:00 am the crew aboard the Yavapai Sheriff’s helicopter confirmed that the items spotted the previous day were a backpack, tarp, and a guitar. Teams from Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, including two search dogs, and Yavapai Sheriff’s Search and Rescue hiked in very rough and steep terrain reaching the items spotted from the air at approximately noon. At 12:45 pm the team located what they believed to be the remains of Thomas Lang.

The remains have not been positively identified and have been released to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner. The Yavapai County and Coconino County Medical Examiners are working together in an effort to identify the remains and determine the cause and manner of death.

The initial search was started after Lang’s father dropped him off at the Manzanita Campground on December 18, 2013 at about 11:00 am. It was Lang’s intention to hike in the area and return on December 22, 2013. When Lang did not return his family members called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and reported him as a missing person. It was at this point that a multi-agency, intensive ground and air search was commenced.

Agencies and resources that were involved with the initial search efforts in 2013 included the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), the YCSO Search and Rescue Unit, the YCSO helicopter, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the CCSO Search and Rescue Unit, Lang’s parents, the Civil Air Patrol, the Maricopa County Search and Rescue Unit, the Mojave County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Unit. The formal search was suspended on December 27, 2013 after an extensive five day search.

In addition to the initial search effort, the Civil Air Patrol flew over the search area and took photographs utilizing a high resolution camera in April 2014. On several different dates hikers reported seeing items that they believe might belong to the missing person. In response to these reports the YCSO helicopter flew multiple missions.

Until the recent discovery of items by Lang’s mother, all of the previously reported items were determined not to belong to Lang. Throughout 2014, both the YCSO and the CCSO Search and Rescue Units conducted numerous training missions in the area where Lang went missing with the dual purpose of training as well as possibly uncovering more clues about his disappearance. It is common to conduct training missions in areas where outstanding missing persons are believed to be.

Cromer School Burglarized Twice

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FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating two burglaries that have recently occurred at Cromer School and are requesting assistance from the community in identifying and locating potential suspects.

The first burglary occurred sometime between the evening of Wednesday, November 19, 2014 and the morning of Thursday, November 20, 2014. The second burglary occurred sometime between the evening of Friday, November 21, 2014 and the morning of Monday, November 24, 2014. Both burglaries occurred in the FACTS building which houses Cromer’s after school program. The FACTS building is a structure that is separate from the main school building. During the first burglary not only did the suspect or suspects take valuable equipment but also vandalized the interior of the structure.

Items taken during these two crimes include a portable blue ray player, a 42” LG flat screen television set, a Dell Computer, 5 Bantam Portable Radios, 4 Cobra portable radios, and cash in excess of $300.00. Several of the stolen items to include the LG television set had been purchased with funds raised by the students.

Anyone with information about these burglaries is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or toll free at (800) 338-7888 or Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111. We need your information not your name. Your information could help solve these cases.

Rain in the forecast the rest of the week

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WILLIAMS – The long range weather forecast shows rain Tuesday through Thursday for Williams and Flagstaff. Tomorrow there is a 20% chance of rain tomorrow with 70% Tuesday night for Williams and a 60% chance for Flagstaff. Wednesday the chance drops to 50% lowering to 10% by Thursday night.

Winds are expected to gust to 18 mph through the night Tuesday in Williams with normal winds around 11 mph. Max winds for Flagstaff are expected to be about 10 mph max over the next three days.

Temperatures in the Northland will average about 50 through Friday when it is expected to return to mostly sunny. Lows are expected to be in the low 30s.

Traffic to switch to new alignment on US 89 in conjunction with opening of new roundabout at the US 89/SR 64 junction north of Flagstaff

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will be switching traffic for both north- and southbound travel on US 89 in Cameron during the morning hours on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to allow for construction to continue on the roadway and bridge project currently underway.

Traffic will be diverted onto the new alignment directly adjacent to the existing US 89 through the community of Cameron, approximately 50 miles north of Flagstaff. In addition to switching traffic to the new alignment, the recently completed roundabout at the US 89/State Route 64 junction will also be opened.

These improvements are part of a project which includes widening US 89 to two lanes in each direction between SR 64 and the Little Colorado River, replacement of the existing US 89 Cameron truss bridge and installation of a roundabout, with new lighting and pedestrian facilities throughout the project area. Travel will continue on the existing bridge while the new bridge is being constructed. The roadway and bridge improvement project is expected to be completed in fall 2016.

Traffic delays may occur during construction with traffic reduced to one lane. There will be directional signage and flaggers present during construction. ADOT advises motorists to be alert for construction equipment and personnel, and to proceed through the work zone with caution.

Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Holiday Meeting

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta would like to invite residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities to the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. The meeting will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Summit Fire Station 33, located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of Highway 89N. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

This meeting will include a holiday theme potluck dinner. Tim Dalegowski who is the Transportation Planner and Scott Tkach who is the County Engineer for Coconino County will give a presentation about the results of a traffic study on Campbell Avenue regarding the speed limit.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Government Bullies vs. The Grove and Cheba Hut

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By Elisha Dorfsmith
Flagstaff Liberty Blog
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Last month when the Daily Sun published an article about a party at the Grove Student Housing Complex that was “totally out of control” I knew that there had to be an ulterior motive behind it. After all, the moment police showed up the party dispersed and only a handful of drunk in public arrests were made. No force was used to break up the party. Hardly sounds uncontrollable to me.

Adding to the misinformation was a report released by Flagstaff PD that said 750-1,000 students were at the party. My sources tell me that in reality there were only 200-300 people there. The extent that Flag PD and the Daily Sun were going all out to villainize The Grove had me scratching my head for a reason.

I believe I found the motive when I attended last night’s Flagstaff City Council meeting. …

Read more at Flagstaff Liberty Blog