Category Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Injured Hiker Rescued In Cathedral Canyon

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Coconino County Sheriff photo

Coconino County Sheriff photo

PAGE — On Friday, July 31st at approximately 7:50 am the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call advising that a hiker was injured with a possible broken leg in Cathedral Wash near Lee’s Ferry in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Page Substation responded with National Park Service Rangers from Lees Ferry. The victim, a 22 year old male from Oregon was located in the canyon between Lees Ferry Road and the Colorado River.

He had sustained a dislocated knee during a short fall in the wash and was experiencing severe pain. Due to the seriousness of the injury, National Park Service Rangers and Sheriff’s Deputies carried the victim to the Colorado River where they were met by medical staff of Classic Lifeguard Air Medical Services. The victim was flown out of the canyon and transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center for his injuries.

Deputies Attempt to Locate Suspicious Subject in Kachina Village

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FLAGSTAFF/KACHINA VILLAGE — On Thursday, July 30, 2015 at about 7:00 am a 15 year-old female was walking on Ancient Trail which is a paved road in Kachina Village. She was aware that a male who was wearing a colored hooded sweat shirt with the hood pulled over his head was walking approximately 25 yards behind her. The subject was walking two small to medium sized white dogs.

As she approached the Kachina Utilities building she took the Pump House Wash dirt trail. The subject continued walking on Ancient and passed the trail head for Pump House Wash. Further down the trail the female realized the subject was now behind her again at about 25 yards.

She followed the trail to Kona which is a paved road in the area of Highlands Fire Department Station 21. She continued East on Kona and at one point turned around to see the subject standing behind a white SUV and peeking at her. She took a video of the suspect with her cell phone. [Video nor photo attached with press release.]

The female continued East on Kona and the male walked West on Kona towards Kletha. Deputies are seeking to identify and locate this individual in an attempt to determine what his intentions were.

Anyone who has had a similar experience or believes they may have information about this incident is urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at the numbers listed below or Silent Witness of Coconino County at (928) 774-6111. We need your information not your name.

Distraught Suicidal Subject Rescued

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FLAGSTAFF — On Saturday at 4:35 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a third party regarding a subject residing in Kachina Village who made statements about harming himself. While deputies were responding to the home, information was obtained that the presence of Sheriff’s Deputies could further aggravate the subject who was armed with multiple firearms. Deputies staged in the area of the residence to establish a perimeter around the home in case the subject attempted to leave the residence.

From these staged locations deputies reached out to family members and friends of the subject in an attempt to resolve the situation peacefully. Deputies were able to meet with the subject’s father and attempted telephone contact. This telephone call ended without success in talking the subject out of the home. During this incident deputies learned the subject in crisis was a military veteran with combat deployments overseas. Deputies were able to locate another local veteran and utilized him to try to talk the subject into a peaceful solution; however, this was to no avail.

At 8:30 pm deputies received information that the subject may have ingested a large number of prescription medications. Multiple attempts to contact the subject by telephone continued to be unsuccessful. Deputies utilized thermal imaging equipment from Highlands Fire Department in an attempt to determine the subject’s location inside the home. Sheriff’s Office personnel maintained a perimeter around the residence. At 9:53 pm deputies entered the home and discovered the subject unresponsive on the living room couch holding a loaded semi-automatic pistol against his chest and a loaded high caliber rifle on the floor next to him.

Deputies secured the weapons and immediately began rendering aid to the unconscious and unresponsive subject. Highlands Fire Department Medical Personnel and Guardian Medics who were staged at a safe location near the incident responded as soon as Deputies rendered the scene safe. Guardian transported the unconscious man to the Flagstaff Medical Level 1 Trauma Center where he was treated and later regained consciousness. It is believed this individual will survive.

Home Invasion in Kachina Village

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800-07-28-15-CoconinoKachinaSuspectKachina Village, AZ — Coconino County Sheriff’ Deputies and Detectives are asking for help from community members in identifying and locating an individual who entered a residence through an unlocked door and contacted an adult female who was taking a shower and inappropriately touched her.

On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at approximately 11:30 pm, an unidentified suspect entered a residence located in the Kachina Village Community through an unlocked door. The suspect walked through the residence and entered a bathroom where he found the female victim who was in the process of taking a shower and inappropriately and illegally touched her. The victim screamed at the suspect ordering him to leave her home. Eventually the suspect left the residence.

The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic male that appeared to be in his mid-30s, approximately 5’8” tall with a skinny build, no visible scars, marks, or tattoos. Prominent features include unusually large round eyes (possibly from drug intoxication) with a predominant overbite or “buck” teeth. At the time this crime was committed the suspect was wearing a gray short sleeve shirt with buttons but no collar, baggy cream colored denim pants, brown belt with a gold buckle, black baseball cap turned backwards and black and white Vans type shoes. Attached is a composite drawing that the victim believes is similar to the suspect’s appearance.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who believes they may know someone who is similar to the composite drawing of the suspect and his physical description to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at the numbers listed below. Anyone who has knowledge of this crime or similar crimes occurring in Coconino County or in the City of Flagstaff is urged to call the below listed numbers for the Sheriff’s Office or the Flagstaff Police Department at (928) 774-4523 (non-emergency). Community members also may call Silent Witness (928) 774-6111 and remember we need your information not your name.

Deputies and Detectives Investigate Suspicious Death

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FLAGSTAFF — On Sunday, July 19, 2015 at about 10:08 am the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) advising that Flagstaff Police Department Officers (FPD) and DPS Officers were in pursuit of an adult female who was driving erratically initially on Highway 89 then North on Highway 180/Fort Valley Road with the pursuit entering several neighborhoods.

According to DPS they received a call from an individual who had been called by the driver of the pursued vehicle. According to the caller, the driver’s sister was deceased and her whereabouts were unknown.

Eventually the female driver stopped the vehicle in the Cheshire Neighborhood and was taken into custody by Flagstaff Police Officers.

Deputies responded to the driver’s residence located in Alpine Ranchos and found a 63 year-old female deceased outside the residence. At this point in the investigation, Detectives believe the victim died as a result of self-inflected injuries.

This investigation is be continued by the Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Two Male Juveniles Arrested for Doney Park Burglaries

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Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating two residential burglaries that occurred in the Doney Park Community. The first burglary occurred between the dates of July 4th, and 5th 2015 at a residence located on Rojo; the other one occurred sometime before July 2nd at a residence located on Marilee Lane. Investigators had no substantial information that would lead to the identity and possible arrest of a suspect or suspects.

On July 20, 2015 detectives were contacted by the parents of two teenage boys who also reside in the Doney Park Community. According to the concerned parents their sons were in the possession of a large amount of expensive items that did not belong to either of the boys or their parents.

With the parents’ permission Investigators contacted and interviewed both of the suspects. During the interview both boys made statements implicating themselves in the crimes. With the parents’ cooperation and assistance Investigators recovered numerous items that did not belong to either of the two suspects. Many of the items recovered were positively identified as being taken during the two previously described residential burglaries. Some of the recovered items are listed below.

· Seven firearms
· Laptop Computer
· Play Station with games
· Twenty-seven tactical or combat type long knives
· Three ammo boxes containing as many as a thousand rounds of ammunition

Both Juveniles were charged with 2 counts each of Residential Burglary and 2 counts each of Felony Theft and were booked into the Coconino County Juvenile Detention Facility. One of the two Juveniles was also charged with 1 count of Trafficking Stolen Property.

Investigators also recovered several items that did not belong to the Juveniles. However, there are no reports listing them as being taken in a burglary. One of these items is a large car speaker that is approximately 3’ in length and 1’ wide. The speaker was allegedly taken from a ministorage locker located in the Doney Park area.

Community members who are victims of burglaries or any other crimes and who live in rural unincorporated areas of the county are urged to report these crimes to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. Remember our investigators can’t recover your property if they don’t know its missing.

Seriously Injured Victim of Off Road Motorcycle Accident Rescued by Multi Agency Response

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640-PhotobFLAGSTAFF — On July 15, 2015 at approximately 1:30 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Guardian Medical Transport, and AZ DPS Air Rescue responded to a motorcycle accident with serious injuries on Hundred Dollar Hill located within the Cinder Hills Off Road Recreation Area. Due to the terrain conventional emergency vehicles could not make access to the scene. The DPS helicopter could not land at the accident site either. A Search and Rescue UTV equipped for patient transport was driven into the crater.

Once the patient was stabilized efforts to remove the patient were initiated. The rescue of the accident victim took approximately 3.5 hours and the use of a CCSO UTV specially equipped with a patient litter basket. The patient was eventually flown to Flagstaff Medical Center by AZ DPS Ranger where he was treated for serious injuries he sustained as the result of this accident.

Announcing a New Search Management Training Video

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SAR-Video-1FLAGSTAFF — A new training video which was a year in the making titled “Introduction to Search Management Best Practices” has been released to aid in training search managers. The video project was a joint effort between the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit, a Mountain Rescue Association member team, and the National Park Service Branch of Search and Rescue. To maximize its benefit to the search and rescue community, the video is being distributed free of charge via the internet. The video is intended to be used in conjunction with a comprehensive search management course or as a review of search management concepts for seasoned search managers.

Search management involves a combination of art and science to analyze the situation and then organize responders to efficiently and effectively cover the search area in an effort to find lost or missing persons. The National Park Service has a long tradition of excellence in search management and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has played an active role in search and rescue management training in Arizona for many years and continues that role with the release of this video.

In addition to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the National Park Service, other agencies that participated in the video project included the Arizona Department of Public Safety Aviation Bureau and Guardian Medical Transport.

A premiere showing for public safety agencies will take place at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Building on July 15th at 7:00 pm. The video can be found at the following link. https://vimeo.com/CCSOSAR/Search-Management

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office to Conduct OUI Checkpoint at Lake Powell

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Coconino County Sheriff Photo.

Coconino County Sheriff Photo.

PAGE — On Saturday, August 1st 2015 law enforcement agencies in Northern Coconino County will be conducting an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) and boating safety checkpoint at Lake Powell from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and drug involved boat collisions, OUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the waterways as well as to inform and educate the public of the dangers of impaired boating.

OUI checkpoints are a proven-effective method for achieving this goal. By publicizing these enforcement and education efforts, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Game and Fish Department believe boaters can be deterred from operating watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, members of the boating community are encouraged to ensure their vessels are properly outfitted with required safety equipment to ensure a safe voyage.

Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vessels may be checked for safety equipment and operators who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering operating a watercraft after consuming alcohol or drugs-Boat Safe, Boat Smart, Boat Sober! Deputies of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will partner with Officers of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, National Park Service, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Page Police Department. It is our desire that this two pronged approach of public awareness/education and strict enforcement will allow boating enthusiasts to have an enjoyable and safe recreational experience in Coconino County.

Safe boating recreation is a must, and everyone should take a minute and remember to check your boats, personal watercraft and all equipment before launching at your favorite lake or waterway. Make sure you have all required safety equipment, such as proper fitting life jackets and working fire extinguishers.

Man Arrested on Multiple Counts of Aggravated Assault

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300-stephen-lee-garciaASH FORK — On June 27, 2015 at approximately 10:48 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single family residence located in Kaibab Estates West which is a rural unincorporated neighborhood located north of Ash Fork, Arizona on the report of an aggravated assault in progress possibly involving an axe and a firearm. Upon their arrival Deputies identified an adult female as the home owner and an 18 year old female who was identified as the home owner’s granddaughter who had her two six month old twin infants with her.

The Deputies approached the home and found the suspect identified as 29 year-old Stephen Lee Garcia of Ash Fork, AZ laying face-down on the ground. Deputies secured him and placed him in handcuffs. The Deputies were assisted with this response by Yavapai County Sheriff’s Deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers.

According to the homeowner, Garcia was a friend of hers who she had not been in contact with for a number of years. On June 27, the victim gave Garcia a ride and dropped him off at an undisclosed location. Later in the afternoon the suspect arrived at the victim’s residence and she allowed him to enter. According to the victims, Garcia who had been consuming alcohol was holding one of the infants and began to put pressure around the baby’s upper torso and squeezed the child tightly to his chest. They were concerned about the child because they believed he was turning purple. The child’s mother struggled with Garcia until she was able to take her baby at which point she took both infants to a bedroom locking the door behind them.

During the course of this assault Garcia allegedly assaulted both of the adult females to include squeezing their upper torsos making it difficult for them to breath. According to one of the victims, Garcia also struck one of the family dogs three or four times in the head with an axe causing serious injuries to the animal. Garcia began kicking the locked door of a bath room that the granddaughter was hiding in and was able to reach in and grab her by the leg attempting to pull her out. Garcia got to his hands and knees and was threatening the victim with an axe. The homeowner took the axe away from Garcia and struck him in the back of the head with it multiple times rendering him unconscious.

Garcia was flown to the Flagstaff Medical Level One Trauma Center by Native Air. The homeowner, her granddaughter, and the two infants were taken to the hospital by ground ambulance and by Sheriff’s Deputies. The dog that Garcia attacked sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Upon Garcia’s release from the medical center, he was taken to the Coconino County Detention Facility where he was incarcerated for multiple counts of Aggravated Assault, Animal Cruelty, Criminal Damage and Disorderly Conduct. He is currently being held on a $100,000 cash or secured bond.