Category Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Update on Death and Attempted Stabbing Near Gray Mountain

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GRAY MOUNTAIN – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident that occurred on Highway 89N near Gray Mountain on 08/05/19. Detectives have identified the male subject that died on scene as 35-year-old Richard Osburn from Oklahoma. A preliminary autopsy finding by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office suggest that Osburn died from blunt force trauma to the head most likely sustained from the him falling from the vehicle onto Highway 89N. There were no other significant injures found on Osburn that would be responsible for or contribute to his death.

investigation showed that Osburn and his wife were traveling southbound on Highway 89N. Osburn was driving their vehicle when the vehicle traveled southbound in the northbound lane near the Sinagua Trading Post. Osburn eventually attempted to correct his position and traveled across the median of Highway 89N causing damage to the vehicle.

Osburn stopped their vehicle and was approached by other civilian motorists who were attempting to assist him. Osburn exited his vehicle and began acting aggressive towards them. During this time the couple from Conway, Arkansas arrived to assist. Osburn approached them continuing with his aggressive behavior. The Arkansas couple got back into their vehicle, with the female victim driving, and started to leave the scene.

They observed Osburn running at their vehicle as they pulled out on the highway. Osburn jumped onto the roof of the vehicle. The female victim accelerated onto Highway 89N southbound.

Osburn, while on top of the vehicle, produced a fixed blade knife and smashed the glass sunroof out of the victim’s vehicle. Osburn then pulled his upper torso into the passenger compartment of the victim’s vehicle and began grabbing at the female driver. During this time, Osburn attempted to stab the female driver with his knife. All the while the male victim was attempting to defend himself and the female victim from the front passenger seat. Eventually, the male victim was able to push Osburn back out of the sunroof.

The female victim initiated an evasive maneuver with the vehicle which caused Osburn to fall from the roof of the vehicle at speeds estimated between 60-70 miles an hour. At this point, it appears as though Osburn died as a result of the injury sustained when he impacted the roadway.

Obsurn’s wife was interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office in Flagstaff and has been cooperative with the investigation. She was released to a friend and Victim Witness services.

Person Arrested After Firing Multiple Shots from Residence in Parks

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PARKS – On August 6, 2019 around 3:25 am Deputies responded to Archers Road in Parks, Arizona for reports from neighbors of a person yelling and shots being fired.

Upon arrival, deputies saw a male suspect at the residence and the suspect fired at the responding officers. The suspect appeared to be agitated, and deputies attempted to verbally de-escalate him. Law enforcement made contact with neighboring residents to secure the area and ensure public safety.

Throughout the incident, the suspect moved inside and outside the residence, continuing to fire multiple weapons. At one point while the suspect was firing rounds at responding officers, a deputy returned fire. After approximately an hour, the armed suspect came outside again. The suspect was partially compliant and deputies were able to disarm him and take him into custody. The suspect was transported for medical evaluation.

The Northern Arizona Joint Tactical Team had been requested and assisted in clearing the residence. No other persons were inside. Lifeline Medical and Ponderosa Fire also responded.

The suspect, who has been identified as 41-year-old Daniel Cluse of Flagstaff, AZ, will be booked into Coconino County Detention Facility.

The Northern Arizona Officer Involved Shooting Team led by the Flagstaff Police Department will be investigating the incident.

Coconino County Investigating Death and Attempted Stabbing Near Gray Mountain

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GRAY MOUNTAIN – On August 5, 2019 at 1:10 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers from Flagstaff responded to Highway 89N near Gray Mountain for a motor vehicle accident, stabbing and death.

The first deputy on scene arrived at 1:34 pm and closed the highway in both directions. The Deputy observed a male body in the middle of the south bound lane. The Deputy checked for vitals and none were found. The subject showed signs of multiple injuries and heavy bleeding. Witnesses advised that a vehicle just south of the location may have been involved and that there was a stabbing victim at the vehicle.

Investigation revealed a couple out of Arkansas were traveling southbound on Highway 89N when they stopped to assist a vehicle that had possibly been involved in an accident. When the couple approached the vehicle, a male suspect from that vehicle ran at them with one hand behind his back.

The male suspect armed with a knife jumped on top of the victim’s car and began to break the sunroof. A struggle ensued between the male passenger and the suspect on top of the car. The female driver attempted to drive away while the male passenger tried to push the suspect away from the car. While the victims were trying to drive off and while the two males were struggling, the vehicle swerved. The suspect fell off the top of the car into the roadway where he was located upon arrival of law enforcement.

Victim and witness accounts indicate the vehicle traveled approximately ¼ to ½ mile at estimated speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour before the suspect came off the roof and onto the road way. The male stabbing victim was treated on scene and transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for non-life-threatening wounds to his hands. The female victim was treated and released on scene by medics. The suspect’s wife was transport to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

This matter is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available at this time. The Arizona Department of Public Safety will be handling any road closure matters.

Suspect in Fernwood assault incident booked

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FLAGSTAFF – Detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the July 29, 2019 assault that occurred in Fernwood. Additional information is being released about the shots fired and the arrest of the suspect.

On July 29, 2019 immediately after the victim was assaulted and while deputies were responding, family members attempted to locate the suspect outside of the house. The family members saw a person that they believed may be the suspect on a nearby neighborhood roadway. When they drove near the suspect, the suspect drew a handgun and fired at least one bullet at the victim’s family members. The suspect then fled. No one was injured during the shots fired incident.

During a neighborhood canvas looking for the suspect and other witnesses, deputies located the suspect at his residence. He was taken into custody without further incident. Deputies also recovered the handgun believed to be used in the armed confrontation with the family of the assault victim.

The suspect was taken to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office for questioning. That individual was subsequently booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility. Another male subject, who deputies initially thought may have been involved in the incident, also was taken to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. After interviews and further investigation, the second person does not appear to have been involved and he was released.

Kasey Johnson, a 22-year-old from Flagstaff, was booked into the Coconino County Jail the following charges: Sexual Abuse, Armed Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, five counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, First Degree Residential Burglary, and two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

The case remains under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office 1-800-338-7888 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111

Sheriff’s Office Rescues injured female from Lava Caves

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FLAGSTAFF – On July 13th, 2019 at approximately 11:55 am, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to the Lava River Caves located off Forest Service Road 171 and conducted a technical Rescue of a 43 year old female who sustained a possible hip injury from a fall.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, with the assistance of Guardian Medical and Ponderosa Fire Department, responded to the Lava Caves located off of Forest Service Road 171 after receiving a call of a 43 year old woman out of Phoenix who had fallen and sustained a possible left hip fracture. The patient slipped and fell because of rocky and slippery conditions inside the cave and was unable to walk out.

Rescue units arrive on scene and removed the patient by technical rescue and a basket carry out at 2:00 pm. The female was then transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for her injury.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds all visitors to wear proper footwear, warm clothing and lighting when traveling in the Lava Caves.

Juvenile Charged in 2018 Fires on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

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FOREST LAKES – A 16 year old male from Glendale, Arizona has lead guilty to starting 3 fires on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves Nation Forest outside of Forest Lakes, Arizona.

The fires were started on May 27 and 28, 2018 in the area of Forest Road 178. The first fire was started on May 27th and reported around 7:30 AM. The fire burned to about 11 acres before fire crews could contain and control the fire.The second fire was started on May 28th and was reported around 1:57 PM and burned a quarter acre before fire crews could contain and control the fire. The third fire was reported while fire crews were fighting the second fire. This fire was contained and controlled at a quarter acre. United States Forest Service fire crews and Forest Lakes Fire Department responded to the fires and conducted containment and suppression operations.

The resident USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement officer in Forest Lakes conducted the investigation and found evidence all three fires were human caused. Investigators were able to identify the suspect as a 16 year old male. The suspect had been with several family members camping in the area. The suspect made statements that he had piled sticks or branches in a pile and lite them on fire for his cousins. The suspect said he was fascinated with fire and enjoyed watching the colors, but also acknowledged he knew the destructive potential of fire.

The suspect was initially detained, arrested and later released to his parents on three federal counts of Causing Timber, Trees and Grass to Burn. The United States Attorney’s later referred the case to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office due to the age of the juvenile suspect. The Juvenile was ultimately charged with three counts of Reckless Burning under Arizona State Law. The suspect plead guilty to one count of Reckless Burning with two counts being dismissed. He was ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution for the cost of fire suppression.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office supports the Forest Service in the protection of our natural resources through partnership by patrolling forested areas, camp grounds, and fires detection and suppression activities.

Third Illegal Alien lawsuit by ACLU against Sheriff Driscoll dismissed by Superior Court

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On June 13, 2019, Superior Court Judge Mark R. Moran dismissed Plaintiff Jose Montelongo-Morales’ class action lawsuit against Coconino County Sheriff James Driscoll and Coconino County Jail Commander Matt Figueroa. The Court found Plaintiff Montelongo-Morales lacked standing to bring the action. The dismissal of this lawsuit marks the third time Arizona courts have dismissed an action against Sheriff Driscoll and Commander Figueroa for honoring Department of Homeland Security/ICE detainers and warrants in order to cooperate with federal law enforcement authorities in their lawful enforcement of federal immigration law.

In the ACLU’s latest attempt to frustrate the lawful enforcement of federal law, Plaintiff Jose Montelongo-Morales sued Sheriff Driscoll and Commander Figueroa for supposedly unlawfully holding him pursuant to an Immigration Detainer and a Warrant for Removal/Detention. Subsequently, DHS/ICE withdrew the Immigration Detainer for Plaintiff Montelongo-Morales and, after posting bond, he was released from custody.

Sheriff Driscoll and Commander Figueroa filed a motion to dismiss Montelongo-Morales’ lawsuit because he lacked standing to bring the action. The Honorable Mark R. Moran, Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, ruled as follows:

In the present case, the Plaintiff lacks standing to bring this action. ICE had removed the detainer at the time he posted bond and left the jail. Thus, he was no longer subject to the very policy he asked this Court to declare as unconstitutional. Plaintiff has not suffered ‘a distinct and palpable injury’ that this Court can redress. He no longer has a direct stake in the outcome of the controversy. In short, Plaintiff does not satisfy the basic standing requirement of being a true adversary for the life of this litigation.

Based on the above ruling by the Court, Judge Moran granted Sheriff Driscoll and Commander Figueroa’s Motion to Dismiss Montelongo-Morales’ lawsuit.

The dismissal of Montelongo-Morales’ lawsuit is not the first time there has been an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office from cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this year, the Honorable Fannie Steinlage, another judge in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, denied another inmate’s application for a Temporary Restraining Order requesting that Sheriff Driscoll be ordered to refrain from cooperating with ICE. Judge Steinlage ruled that Jesus Quiroz-Villalobos did not establish a likelihood of success on the merits of his case. That case was then voluntarily dismissed by Quiroz-Villalobos on April 24, 2019.

Nearly one year ago, on July 6, 2018, United States District Court Judge David Campbell denied Plaintiff Guillermo Tenorio-Serrano’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction challenging Sheriff Driscoll’s policy of holding persons in State custody for up to 48 additional hours, as requested in ICE detainers and warrants. Judge Campbell ruled that he could not conclude Plaintiff Tenorio-Serrano was likely to succeed on his claims. Judge Campbell also ruled that Sheriff Driscoll would face serious hardship if the Court ordered him to refrain from complying with ICE detainers. He noted the injunction would interfere with the Sheriff’s judgment as an elected official, would interfere with the Arizona legislature’s policy determination in S.B. 1070 that Arizona should cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and may also interfere with the State of Arizona’s interest in preventing unlawful immigration, as recognized by the United States Supreme Court.

Sheriff Driscoll and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will continue to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security/ICE in its lawful attempt to enforce federal immigration law. Sheriff Driscoll recognizes and strongly supports the rule of law and will make every effort to enforce the law and protect the community.

Suspects arrested for aggravated assault and weapons violation in Tusayan

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TUSAYAN – On May 27 at about 3:57 p.m. the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male subject pointing a gun at people inside and outside of the Squire Inn in Tusayan. Further reports indicated several shots had been fired outside of the hotel with no injuries reported.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety Helicopter, Department of Public Safety Officer’s and Park Rangers from the Grand Canyon Nation Parks Service responded to the scene. During the investigation the male subject was identified as 23-year-old Ezekiel VALENZUELA and female subject identified as 20-year-old Reyna MUNOZ.

Upon responding to the Squire Inn, deputies spoke with witnesses on scene who described a male and female subject in the arcade engaged in an altercation. Bystanders attempted to intervene to stop the altercation when the male subject pulled a hand gun from his waist and pointed it at patrons.

Both subjects exited the Squire Inn and began walking towards a forested area to the west of the hotel. The male subject again pointed the gun at an employee in the parking lot as the two were walking from the area.

Both subjects were found to work at the Wendy’s in Tusayan and reside in local housing. Deputies, DPS and National Parks Service Rangers were able to locate the subjects at a residence in the area and detained both subjects without incident.

Upon interviewing the subjects, MUNOZ reported she had been the one who had discharged the gun after taking it from VALENZUELA. MUNOZ reported she had not discharged the gun at anyone.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence, where deputies located the firearm and the clothing they had been wearing at the time of the incident as indicated by video surveillance.

Both subjects were transported to the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff and booked on multiple charges including Aggravated Assault, Disorderly Conducted with a Deadly Weapon, Endangerment and False Information to Law Enforcement.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies involved in fatal shooting

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FLAGSTAFF – At approximately 1:13 AM Deputies with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office were involved in an armed confrontation leading to an Officer-Involved fatal shooting south of Parks on County Road 141.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies out of the Williams Substation were called to the Pine Aire neighborhood near Parks, AZ, after receiving a report of domestic violence. The reporting party had called the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Williams Substation to report that her ex-husband had pulled a gun on her while at their residence during an argument. The reporting party told Deputies that he had fled the house in a white passenger car. Deputies immediately began responding to the residence. While in route to the house, Deputies came across a vehicle matching the description given by the reporting party parked along side of County Road 141, approximately 4 miles from the residence.

Upon contact with the vehicle, the occupant immediately exited with a handgun in his hand. Despite multiple commands to drop the gun the suspect continued to advance on the deputies with the gun in his hand, prompting one Deputy to discharge rounds from his patrol rifle. The suspect was hit by at least one round and fell to the ground. Deputies on scene attempted to render aid to the suspect but he sustained fatal injuries during the altercation.

The suspect was identified as Paul Mcvicker, a 43-year-old Parks resident, was later pronounced deceased on scene. This incident is currently under investigation by the Northern Arizona Officer Involved Shooting Team, with the Flagstaff Police Department taking the lead.

The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as further information is available.
The Deputies involved in the incident were not injured. The deceased was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner Office for further investigation.

Fire guts home in Williams

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WILLIAMS – Three fire engines were called in to fight a fire at 418 5th Street in Williams that started about 5:45. Units from the Williams Police and Coconino County Sheriff’s Department responded for traffic control.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. There are reports that the family members are okay, but they lost one of the family dogs. The house was totally gutted.