Flagstaff – On Sunday, March 30, 2014 at about 2:11 AM Coconino County Detention Facility Officers while conducting scheduled inmate security and welfare checks found an inmate unresponsive in his cell. Detention Officers quickly began lifesaving measures, to include CPR, until paramedics arrived on scene and took over lifesaving efforts. The inmate was pronounced deceased at about 2:50 AM. The cause of death is currently under investigation but appears to be a suicide. Coconino County Sheriff’s officials are currently attempting to notify next of kin.
Category Archives: Coconino County Sheriff
Resident Stabbed During Assault
FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating an alleged assault during which the victim claims he was stabbed while fighting with an assailant who forced his way into the victim’s home. On Sunday, March 23, 2014 at approximately 2:00 pm Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatchers received a call from an individual who reported he was stabbed by an intruder in his home. According to the victim/caller the suspect left his residence before the victim called the Sheriff’s Office.
Upon their arrival at the residence located in a west Doney Park neighborhood, deputies examined the victim and saw that he had sustained a single stab wound in his abdomen. He received on scene medical attention from Summit Fire District medics and was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian Ambulance where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
According to the victim, he answered a knock at his front door and was greeted by an adult male that was unknown to him. The stranger introduced himself as a private contractor and offered to do inexpensive roof repairs on the victim’s home. When the victim declined the offer, the unidentified suspect allegedly forced his way into the victim’s home. The two were engaged in a physical struggle and worked their way into the kitchen. According to the victim he obtained a small knife off of the counter to defend himself, and during the ensuing struggle was stabbed in the stomach.
The alleged intruder is described as an adult male with dark complexion, possibly Native American or Hispanic, with dark very short cropped hair almost giving the impression the suspect was bald, a dark goatee, approximately 5’11” in height, weighing approximately 190 pounds, and approximately 35 to 40 years of age. The alleged suspect was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and blue jean pants and exited the residence through the kitchen door.
Investigators believe this alleged crime is an isolated occurrence; the Sheriff’s Office has not received any reports of similar incidents. Detectives are pursuing this investigation in an effort to identify a suspect and to determine what occurred. If you live in the Doney Park area and have been contacted by a subject claiming to be a private contractor, offering inexpensive home repairs, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Community members who believe they may have information regarding this alleged crime or individuals who observe something they believe is suspicious are urged to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523, toll free at 1-800-338-7888, Coconino County Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111 (toll free at 1-877-292-7463). For all emergencies please dial 911.
Community Meeting on Awareness & Prevention of Serious Injury and Fatality Collisions on Camp Townsend/Winona Road
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is facilitating a meeting to discuss motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities that have occurred on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. The meeting will be held at the Summit Fire District Station Number 31 located at 6425 N. Cosnino Road in Flagstaff on Thursday, March 27, 2014 beginning at 6:00 pm.
During the years of 2008 to February 4, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives have investigated 49 motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and five collisions that have resulted in fatalities on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. Investigations have revealed that a large number of the collisions are the result of driver error with the most predominant violations of “Speed in Excess Of the Posted Limit” and “Failure to Control Motor Vehicle.”
Representatives of the Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Public Works Engineering Department will present information to the community and discuss possible solution to include increased enforcement of traffic violations on Camp/Townsend Winona Road with emphasis on violations that may result in serious injury and fatality collisions. Representatives of the Public Works Department will discuss the possibility of additional signage.
The Sheriff’s Office is seeking information and suggestions from the public that create a collaborative effort to reduce collisions in the area. We cordially invite you to join the Sheriff’s Office in a partnership of trust and shared responsibility with the ultimate objective of increasing motoring-safety on Camp Townsend Winona Road and throughout our community.
Multiple Residential Burglaries in Forest Lakes Area
FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating a series of five residential burglaries that were reported during the dates of February 24, 2014 through March 13, 2014. The burglaries have occurred in the Mule Springs area located south of Highway 260 and in the Mineral Loop area north of Highway 260. Residential structures and outbuildings have been targeted in the burglaries.
Method of entry may include both blunt force entry through exterior doors and entry through exterior doors in which the locks have been picked. The suspect or suspects may be targeting construction tools including power tools, air compressors and chain saws. Investigators are looking into the possibility that the burglaries that have occurred in the Forest Lakes area may be related to numerous burglaries that have occurred in the Heber area that are under investigation by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.
If you believe you see something suspicious such as a vehicle that you haven’t seen in the neighborhood before, a suspicious person that doesn’t appear to belong in the area, an unoccupied home that does not appear to be secure or any other indicator that a crime has occurred, or if you believe you have information regarding these burglaries, please call the Coconino County Sheriff Office at (928) 774-4523, toll free at (1-800) 338-7888, or Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111.
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Two neighborhood watch programs scheduled for Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF – Two neighborhood watch meetings are scheduled for the first week of March in the Flagstaff area. The first is at Timberline/Fernwood on March 4. The second will be in Doney Park on March 6.
The Timberline/Fernwood meeting will be from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Summit Fire Station #33 located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of North Highway 89. Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll of the Coconino County Sheriff’s office and County Supervisor Liz Archuleta will be in attendance. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.
At the request of participants who attended the February meeting a Master Gardener from Coconino County will speak to the group about seasonal gardening and plant species that thrive in Coconino County. The speaker will also identify types of noxious weeds and plants found in Coconino County.
Deputy Driscoll and County Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be at the Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting from 6 to 8 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 at the meeting to encourage continued neighborhood participation and to share information. Doney Park Community Deputies will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.
At the request of participants during the February meeting, Ruthanne Penn who is the Assistant to the Coconino County Emergency Manager will give a presentation on Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies. Ms. Penn will give instructions on how to build a “Go Bag” which contains items required for an evacuation out of the residence lasting up to 72 hours. Participants will also be given instructions how to build a “Home Emergency Kit” that will sustain a family for up to 72 hours in the event they are required to “Shelter in Place.”
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.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office & Taverna Greek Grill Sponsor Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympics on Feb 18
Flagstaff – Join the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Taverna Greek Grill, 420 S Woodland Blvd in Flagstaff, to raise funds for Northern Arizona Special Olympics athletes. The Tip-A-Cop event will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. All day, 15% of sales will go toward AZ Special Olympics. From 5 pm – 9 pm Sheriff’s Office employees will be assisting the waiters and helping to serve you. Officers will be accepting any tax deductible charitable donations you wish to give to help support local AZ Special Olympics athletes.
Special Olympic events were created for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to explore their abilities in a variety of sports and physical activities. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is a branch of Special Olympics that was founded by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in the 1980’s. LETR is committed not only to raising funds for Special Olympics Athletes, but also to sharing awareness and promoting opportunities for the athletes. In Arizona, Special Olympics offers 22 sporting events, 170 programs and five statewide competitions for over 13,000 athletes each year.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run earned its name because law enforcement personnel run, walk, and bicycle carrying the Special Olympics Torch to its destination for local, state, and worldwide Special Olympics Games. As such, law enforcement has become the “Guardian of the Flame” for Special Olympics. Later this spring, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will again be among the law enforcement agencies that guard the Flame of Hope as it journeys through our state and makes its way to the summer state games in Phoenix, AZ.
In preparation for those games and to help raise funds for our local athletes to train and participate in the sporting events, we are kicking off 2014 with Tip-A-Cop at Taverna Greek Grill in Flagstaff. We also will be working with community partners throughout Coconino County for additional Tip-A-Cop events and other fundraising opportunities as we help athletes realize their goals and promote community awareness for Special Olympics. Watch for these and other events on our Facebook page CoconinoSO and our Twitter account CoconinoSheriff:
- AZ Special Olympics Winter Games are February 21-22, 2014 in Flagstaff
- Polar Plunge fundraiser is March 8, 2014 in Flagstaff
- AZ Special Olympics Summer Games are May 1-3, 2014 in Phoenix
To learn more about the Arizona Special Olympics, please visit the website: http://www.specialolympicsarizona.org
You also can learn more about the partnership of Arizona law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes in a series of videos highlighting their stories. Athlete Christopher Lee and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detention Sergeant Corey Ringenberg share their stories at: http://youtu.be/B-TCXC25Dxo. A new video is scheduled to be unveiled each month, so watch for more videos and get to know some of the athletes.
Three Arrested for Weapons Misconduct
Flagstaff – On February 5, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the Williams/Grand Canyon Patrol District arrested twenty year-old Jose Manuel Hernandez, eighteen year-old Christian Campos and eighteen year-old Victoria Mast for two counts of Weapon Misconduct and two counts of Harassment on each suspect.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence located outside the city limits of Williams and within the unincorporated area of Coconino County on the report of explosions and harassment from the same victim on four different occasions. The residence is located in a housing area that borders the Elephant Rocks Golf Course. According to the victim on each occasion he would hear the sound of as many as three loud explosions in close proximity to his home. During each separate response investigating Deputies would observe and collect as many as three plastic bottles that were partially destroyed by an explosion. Most of the bottles collected exhibited signs of melting possibly as the result of a chemical reaction within the bottle and a subsequent explosion. The evidence collected is indicative of chemical bombs created by placing some type of volatile chemical or chemical compound in the bottle and sealing it with aluminum foil.
The reported crimes occurred on January 21st, 22nd, 23rd and the 29th of 2013. On January 22nd one of the investigating Deputies made contact with the office of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and appraised a Federal ATF Agent of the reports, the subsequent investigations and of evidence collected. Deputies became aware that Williams Police Officers were investigating multiple incidents of eggs thrown at parked vehicles within Williams City Limits. A Williams Police Officer informed the Sheriff’s Office he observed the above listed individuals in the area of the harassment victim’s neighborhood.
During interviews with Deputies all of the above three suspects made statement implicating them in the crimes of Weapon Misconduct and Harassment.
Coconino County Sheriff’s office seeks information on Chase Reed Willet
FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s office and Flagstaff Police are seeking information on a 15-year old runaway.
Chase Reed Willet was last seen getting off of the bus at Mount Elden Middle School in Flagstaff on February 4 at about 7:15 am. When last seen, he was wearing a white sweater with gray skulls on it, blue jeans and white sneakers with red trim.
Chase is a white male, 5′ 4″ weighing 100 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes and a 1-inch scar on his right cheek.
Anyone with information should call the Coconino County Sheriff at 928-774-4523 or 1-800-338-7888. You can also call Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.
Man Arrested for Multiple Criminal Offenses Including Theft of Automobile and Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement
FLAGSTAFF – On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at about 7:30 p.m. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrested forty six year-old James Capobianco Jr. of Sedona Arizona for Theft of Automobile, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Flight from a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated DUI on a Suspended License, and Reckless Driving.
On February 4, 2014 at 7:06 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received the report of the theft of a 1969 Chevrolet pickup truck bearing an Arizona license plate from the owner’s residence located off of Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon. A Deputy spotted the vehicle headed north bound on 89A in the area of the Pinedale Subdivision.A second Deputy and an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer were stopped on 89A in the area of the entrance to Fort Tuthill. As the stolen vehicle and the following Deputy passed, the second Deputy and Officer fell in behind the first two vehicles.
As the suspect vehicle passed the entrance to the Mountain Dell subdivision a Deputy observed the speed to be approximately seventy miles per hour. Deputies engaged their vehicles emergency lights and siren and the suspect failed to yield accelerating as it made a right turn on Lake Mary Road. The vehicle turned onto West High County squealing its tires as it negotiated the turn. The vehicle continued on West High Country at a high rate of speed almost rear ending vehicles in front of it and passing in a reckless manner. At this point and in the interest of public safety the on duty supervisor advised the involved Deputies to terminate the pursuit. A Deputy could see through the trees that the fleeing vehicle stopped approximately fifty yards ahead of the location where the deputies had stopped pursuing the vehicle.
Deputies approached the vehicle and saw the DPS Officer chasing the driver later identified as James Capobianco Jr. on foot. They joined the foot chase and a Deputy was able to make physical contact with the fleeing suspect. Initially the suspect physically resisted arrest but eventually complied and was taken into custody without injury to himself or the arresting Deputies.
During this investigation Deputies learned that approximately four months prior to this incident a female relative of the suspect’s sold her vehicle to the victim. The suspect allegedly retained a spare set of keys to the vehicle and used the keys to steal the vehicle. During an interview with arresting Deputies the suspect made statements implicating him in the above listed offenses.
Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Flagstaff––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, February 4, 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 North Highway 89. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.
Paul Currivan who is a Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Volunteer and participant of the Timberline Neighborhood Watch program will give a presentation on Driving Safety Tips during Inclement Weather. Community Deputy Robert Smith will give a presentation on Preparedness for and Survival of Severe Winter Weather.
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.