Category Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Thunder Storm/Lightning Safety

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FLAGSTAFF — Outdoor enthusiasts should be aware of the dangers that may come with monsoons. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the US Forest Service want visitors to enjoy their time on the forests and encourage visitors planning a trip to the area to “Know Before You Go”

Lightning: What You Need to Know

  • NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area
  • If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you
  • When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up
  • Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

  • Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
  • Never lie flat on the ground
  • Never shelter under an isolated tree
  • Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
  • Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
  • Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

Forecast weather conditions can be found at the National Weather Service webpage http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.

Lighting Strike Kills One and Injures Several Others

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FOREST LAKES, AZ — A lighting strike in the Mogollon Rim area caused the death of a young female and injured several others when they sought shelter underneath a ponderosa pine tree during a thunder storm.

The Northern Arizona Regional 911 Center in Flagstaff, AZ received an emergency call around 4:20 PM Saturday June 27, 2015 for several people injured by a lighting strike.

Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies as well as United States Forest Service law enforcement officers, Blue Ridge Fire Department, Pine-Strawberry Fire Department and the Forest Lakes Fire Department responded to the location off of forest service road 321, just north of the Rim Road in the Blue Ridge area. This area is approximately half way between State Route 87 and Forest Lakes. Prior to emergency personnel’s arrival, dispatchers received the report of a female in the group who was not breathing and of several others who had unknown injuries.

It took responders a considerable amount of time to reach the victims due to the remote location of the incident. Medics and law enforcement officers found a 24 year-old female deceased and seven other victims with varying degrees of injuries.

It is believed the hiking group left the Phoenix area on Friday evening, traveling to the Mogollon Rim for a weekend of camping and hiking. On Saturday the group was on a hiking trip when they were caught by a severe thunder and lightning storm causing them to seek shelter underneath a stand of Ponderosa Pine trees.

Initial reports from on-scene Deputies indicated lighting struck one of the pine trees where the group stood, knocking most of them to the ground. Members of the group attempted to resuscitate 24 year old Christine Garcia of Orlando, FL who was not breathing however they were unsuccessful and she died at the scene. It does not appear the lightning strike hit anyone directly.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Ranger helicopter based out of Flagstaff responded to the scene. DPS Air Rescue was able to fly a critically injured male to the Flagstaff Medical Level One Trauma Center, where he is being treated for unknown injuries. Three less critical patients, two males and one female were transported by ground ambulance to Payson Regional Hospital for unknown injuries. Medical helicopters assigned closer to the area were unable to respond due to the storm cell over the area.

This investigation is being continued by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Forest Service.

Injured Hikers Rescued on Northern Arizona Mountains

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FLAGSTAFF — Two injured hikers were rescued off Kendrick Mountain and the San Francisco Peaks on Saturday June 27, 2015.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received two separate calls of injured hikers on different mountains outside of Flagstaff. The calls came in less than an hour from each other.

The first incident occurred around 12:35 PM Saturday afternoon. A call was received in the Northern Arizona Regional 911 center requesting assistance for a female hiker who had injured her ankle while hiking on Kendrick Mountain northwest of Flagstaff. A Guardian Medical Ambulance crew, based out of Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff responded as well as a Sheriff’s search and rescue crew.

Prior to the arrival of medics and search and rescue, the 911 center received the call for a hiker with acute mountain sickness on the Humphreys Trail on the San Francisco Peaks at an elevation of 11, 400 feet. The search and rescue crew was diverted to this call on the Peaks.

The hiker, a 58 year old female from Phoenix had hiked to the top of Kendrick Mountain and had inured her ankle about 2/3 the way back down the mountain. Four members of Guardian Medical, along with one Coconino County Search and Rescue volunteer, a United States Forest Service law enforcement officer and one Forest Service fire fighter were able to conduct a liter carry of the hiker off the mountain. She was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of a possible fractured ankle.

The second call on the San Francisco Peaks was made by a Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteer who was working a hiking event on the mountain. Four volunteers were staged on the Peaks to assist should any search and rescue situations arise.

At about 1:23 PM, the search and rescue volunteer came upon a 22 year old male hiker from Lemon Grove, CA who was suffering from signs of acute high altitude sickness and was very weak and unable to walk. Another search and rescue volunteer, already on the mountain responded and with the help of an off duty paramedic from Mercy Gilbert Hospital in Gilbert, AZ and an EMT in nursing school, provided aid to the victim. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter based in Flagstaff was dispatched to the Arizona Snowbowl.

The search and rescue crew, paramedic and EMT were able to slowly assist the hiker down the mountain to the point where the victim could be transported by an all-terrain vehicle provided by the Arizona Snowbowl to the waiting Air Rescue crew. The hiker was flown by DPS to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was treated and released for mountain sickness.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Guardian Ambulance, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the United States Forest Service, Arizona Snowbowl and citizens who assisted us with these two rescues.

Multi-Agency Response to Injured Hiker in Sycamore Falls

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640sycamore-sheriff-01FLAGSTAFF — Yesterday at 12:00 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Coconino County Search and Rescue personnel responded to the report of a rappelling accident at Sycamore Falls. According to the reporting party a 56 year old male had been struck by a falling rock and was at the bottom of the canyon. Due to the remote location, treacherous terrain and the unknown extent of injuries assistance was requested from Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue who responded from Kingman, AZ, Ponderosa Fire District, and Lifeline Ambulance.

300sycamore-sheriff-02Once on scene a search and rescue team member rappelled to the patient’s location and conducted an assessment. It was determined that the patient suffered isolated injuries to his left knee and foot however he did not have any serious or life threatening injuries. At that point it was determined that a helicopter rescue was not necessary and a ground based rope rescue system was constructed to raise the patient and a rescuer to the top of the cliff so he could be transported by ambulance personnel to the Flagstaff Medical Level One Trauma Center.

This incident was an unfortunate accident however the victim was wearing the appropriate safety equipment. It is important for all outdoor recreationists to tell someone where they are going, carry the “Ten Essentials”, and use the appropriate personal protective equipment for the activities they are engaged in.

Ten Essentials

1. Water
2. Food
3. Extra warm clothing
4. Navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS)
5. Headlamp/Flashlight
6. First Aid Kit
7. Shelter Material (space blanket or large leaf bag)
8. Fire Starting Kit (use extreme caution in the dry summer months)
9. Pocket Knife or Multi-Tool
10. Whistle/Signal Mirror

Rescue of fallen climber on Mount Elden

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Coconino County Sheriff photo.

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff 911 dispatchers received a report yesterday at about 10:45 a.m. of a 38-year old woman who fell 25-feet while climbing on the Schultz Pass side of Mount Elden in the area of Oldham Falls.

According to the caller a 38 year-old woman who was climbing on a rock face was attempting to place an anchor in a crack in the shear rock face where she was climbing. She fell approximately 25 feet, jerked to a stop at the end of her secured safety line, and slammed with a great deal of force into the rock face.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search Unit and the Flagstaff Fire Department responded to the call for service. When the first responders arrived, by standers had already freed the victim from her line and she was positioned on the ground.

Flagstaff firefighters provided on scene medical care and prepared the victim for transportation in medical litter. Eight Flagstaff firefighters and seven Search and Rescue volunteers took turns carrying the victim approximately three-quarter of a mile to a waiting Guardian Ground Medical Transport unit.

The victim was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Level 1 Trauma Unit where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Northern Arizona law enforcement track kidnapping suspect

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On Wednesday, June 18, 2015 at approximately 1:19 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Lieutenant who manages the Page Patrol division received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that an individual may have been taken against his will. The FBI provided subject, victim and vehicle descriptions as well as direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the subject was seeking to acquire a firearm.

The CCSO Lieutenant initiated a regional attempt to locate message with information regarding the case and a vehicle description to Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies to include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Page Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the National Park Service.

An Arizona DPS Officer and a CCSO Sergeant located the suspect vehicle as it was north bound on Highway 89 and positioned behind a pilot vehicle at a construction zone near Cedar Ridge.

The officer and a deputy attempted to perform a high risk stop on the vehicle and administered verbal commands instructing the occupants to exit the vehicle. The occupants failed to follow instructions and the driver maneuvered the vehicle through the construction zone and continued north on Highway 89 at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour with officers in pursuit.

Page Police Officers, AZ DPS Officers and National Park Service Rangers attempted on four occasions to deploy Stop Sticks designed to gradually deflate vehicle tires; however the driver was able to avoid the stop sticks at all four locations.

At one point a Page Police Officer fired his duty weapon once at the suspect vehicle; no one was struck or injured by the bullet. CCSO Detectives and Page Police Department personnel are conducting independent investigations of this shooting.

The pursuit continued through the City of Page, AZ and north on Highway 89 into Utah. As the vehicle fled from pursuing officers the occupants threw items out of the windows to include miscellaneous papers. Utah law enforcement authorities deployed stop sticks at two more locations and during both incidents the devices effectively deflated all four tires of the suspect vehicle. In the area of milepost 54.9 on Highway 89 after traveling on tireless wheels, the vehicle veered to the side of the road.

Pursuing officers gave commands to the occupants to exit the vehicle. For a prolonged period of time the occupants refused to follow commands and continued to throw items out of the vehicle to include an empty handgun holster. They also waved an American Flag and a second unidentified flag out of the windows. At least one of the occupants placed gas masks over his face.

Eventually the driver who was believed to be the alleged kidnap victim exited the vehicle and shortly thereafter the passenger also exited the vehicle. Both individuals were taken into custody by Deputies assigned to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit. Utah Highway Patrol officials are continuing this investigation.

A portion of Highway 89 in Utah was shut down for a prolonged period of time as the result of the pursuit and subsequent standoff with the vehicle occupants.

Sheriff’ Deputies Respond to Multiple Reports of Burglary from Automobiles in 2 Rural Neighborhoods

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FLAGSTAFF — At about 6:30 am this morning, Tuesday, June 16, 2015 a Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the report of a vehicle burglary in Pioneer Valley Estates on Pioneer Valley Road. The reporting party believed the crime occurred sometime after Monday, June 15, 2015 7:30 pm and before Tuesday, June 15, 2015 6:00 am. According to the victim the vehicle was left unlocked and several items of value were taken. After taking the initial report Deputies drove the area and discovered an additional 5 vehicle burglaries. Deputies found several vehicles with doors left open. Many of the vehicle owners were asleep and unaware that their vehicle had been burglarized. Due to similar physical evidence found at several of the crime scenes Deputies believe all of the crimes were committed by the same suspect or group of suspects.

These burglaries also occurred in Sunset Crater Estates on Moonbeam and Gemini. Items taken during the burglaries included a portable audio player, a satellite radio receiver, cash and loose change, and a firearm. All the victims told the investigators that they left their vehicles unlocked. During the investigations Deputies learned that locked vehicles located in close proximity to the burglarized vehicles were left untouched. It is not uncommon for individuals who commit vehicle burglaries to walk a neighborhood and check the doors of each vehicle. If the vehicle is locked they move on until they find a vehicle that is unlocked.

Auto-burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, involves limiting the criminal’s ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With very little time and effort, you can make a huge difference in your vulnerability to auto-burglary.

  • Lock ALL your vehicle’s doors even if you plan to be gone for only a brief time. Every year, we have items stolen from unlocked vehicles where the owner was only going to be gone “just for a second.” It only takes seconds to steal your stuff! It’s not uncommon for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles and check vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked. Don’t leave any window open or even cracked open, including vent/wing windows and sunroofs.
  • Don’t leave valuables in your car. That sounds like “common sense,” but drivers/passengers do leave items of value in plain view every day. If you leave valuable items visible in your car, your car is automatically a target.
  • Try to park in busy, well-lighted areas. Try to park in well-traveled areas. Large anonymous lots are hit by thieves much more often than parking immediately adjacent to residential housing or other occupied buildings.
  • Set any alarm or anti-theft device. If you have one, use it! Many people believe that car-alarms no longer make a difference, but they can be an effective deterrent to an auto-burglar, who most often chooses the easiest target.
  • Mark your valuables! As a last line of defense (not really to prevent theft as much as to aid in recovery), mark your valuables. Recording serial numbers is dandy, but nowadays many serial numbers are on removable “labels” rather than “engraved” into valuable items. Sheriff Pribil suggests inscribing/engraving a “personal identifier” on all valuables.
  • Take Removable Equipment with You. If you have an after-market stereo/CD-player with a removable faceplate, remove it. Without the faceplate, the unit is less attractive/useful to many thieves, and harder to “fence.” If the unit can be pulled, pull it! Take it with you. Just covering a valuable radio (or ANY valuables in your car) with something (like a blanket or towel) to hide it will probably only draw thieves’ attention.
  • Report Suspicious Activity. If you see suspicious activity, report it to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523 or call 911

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Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies Respond to Numerous Calls for Service during the Weekend

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF — Three community events (Too Broke for Sturgis, Firefly, and Made in the Shade) each attracting a large number of attendees occurred in Coconino County this past weekend.

Too Broke for Sturgis was a four day event from June 11-14 that took place at Mormon Lake. Promoters estimated that approximately 1,500 motorcycle enthusiasts attended this event and camped in the area.

Firefly is described by its promoters as a gathering focused on manifesting vision of a co-creative, nurturing and loving community that fosters a healing, healthy lifestyle partnered with conscious celebration and spiritual peak experiences. Promoters estimated the attendance to be approximately 1,400.

The third event was the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival that took place at the Pepsi Amphitheater at the Coconino County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 13 from 1-5 pm.

Calls for service ranged from an accidental shooting at the Too Broke for Sturgis event (report S15-02234) to a one vehicle non-injury rollover collision on a dirt road near Blue Ridge (report S15-02236).

On Friday evening Deputies respond to a campsite at the Too Broke for Sturgis event on the report of an accidental shooting. According to witnesses an intoxicated adult male took a handgun out of a shoulder holster he was wearing and accidentally inflicted a through and through gunshot wound to his left hand. Deputies estimated that after exiting the victim’s hand the bullet continued to travel and missed striking a bystander by less than one foot. The bullet came to rest in the tire of a nearby vehicle. The individual who accidentally shot himself in the hand was transported by Guardian Medical Transport to the Flagstaff Medical Center where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies and Detectives are continuing this Felony Endangerment investigation (report S15-02234).

On Saturday Deputies assigned to the Williams Grand Canyon District assisted U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement officers with the arrest of a violent and combative individual for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer in the area of Forest Service Roads FS17 and FS12 (report S15-02357).

On Sunday Sheriff’s Deputies, Navajo Nation Police Officers, and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers responded to the report of a fight involving multiple combatants along the side of Highway 89 in the area of milepost 456. Upon their arrival many of the participants were still present and it was determined to be Navajo Nation Police jurisdiction. Deputies arrested one of the participants who was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant (report S15-02263).

During the weekend Deputies assigned to the Blue Ridge, Flagstaff, Forest Lakes, Oak Creek Canyon and Williams/Grand Canyon districts responded or conducted 27 public assists and motorists assists, conducted 222 area patrols and business checks, responded to 14 reports of disorderly conduct, assisted with 18 calls for medical assistance, investigated 7 reports of property crimes and 5 crimes against persons.

They conducted 48 traffic stops, responded to 2 calls involving firearms, investigated 5 non-injury or injury motor vehicle collisions, arrested 2 individuals for DUI, and responded to incidents involving Domestic Violence.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Coconino County Search and Rescue personnel also responded to 8 reports of missing persons, overdue hikers and injured hikers.

Inter-Agency Cooperation Results in an Arrest for Multiple Counts of Exploitation of a Minor

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300Leroy-BehnkeFLAGSTAFF — On May 12, 2015 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agents contacted Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives regarding the possession and distribution of child pornography by an adult male who lives in the greater Flagstaff area. According to the FBI agents they developed information that caused them to believe that 28 year-old Leroy Behnke of Flagstaff, Arizona was in possession of numerous images depicting young children and infants engaged in various sexual acts. They further believed that Behnke had obtained the images from several online chat rooms and then distributed the images to other online users.

On May 21, 2015 Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives, Deputies and FBI Agents served a search warrant on Behnke’s place of residence while he was at home. During the service of the search warrant Behnke’s laptop computer was seized and he was interviewed by a Sheriff’s Detective and an FBI agent.

During the interview Behnke made statements implicating himself in numerous counts of possessing and exchanging child pornography images online. Behnke was arrested on 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Distribution and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility where he was incarcerated.

This case is one of many cooperative efforts between the FBI and the Sheriff’s office that resulted in the arrest of an outstanding suspect on very serious charges.

Sheriff’s Detectives and FBI agents are continuing this investigation.

Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and District 4 Supervisor Mandy Metzger would like to invite residents of the Doney Park community to attend the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2015. The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

Our guest speaker will be Kate Morley who is the Coconino County Community Development Planner and she will speak about the Coconino County Comprehensive Plan. The Sheriff’s Office will provide a Woods Watch Program.

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.