Tag Archives: Coconino County Sheriff

Sixty-Two-Year-Old Man Falls to his Death

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coco-sheriff-300pxFLAGSTAFF — On Thursday, July 16, 2015 at approximately 2:27 pm Sheriff/Police Emergency Dispatchers received the report of a man and his dog who had fallen off of a cliff. The location of the accident was off of the north end of Forest Service road 237 in the area of Chevelon Canyon located north of Forest Lakes.

Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, United States Forest Service personnel, Forest Lakes Fire Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Crews based in Flagstaff and Phoenix assisted with this call.

Emergency First Responders met with the reporting party on Forest Service road 237 to obtain more information regarding the accident. According, to the reporting party, the victim and his blind dog were walking along the top of the rim when they both fell off of a cliff that was about 500 to 600 feet above the canyon floor. The AZ DPS Air Rescue crew from Flagstaff flew the area and spotted the victim about 300 feet below the cliff he fell from. Due to the extremely rough terrain on the canyon floor the helicopter was not able to safely land at the location where the victim came to rest. A crew member described the victim as not moving and unresponsive. A second AZ DPS Air Rescue crew responded from Phoenix and was able to lower a DPS Technical Rescue Officer to the deceased victim’s location. The technician prepared the body for transport and they were flown out of the area utilizing the short haul method. The dog was found deceased approximately 10 feet from the victim’s location.

The victim has been identified as 62 year old Glen Dickinson of Tucson, Arizona.

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.

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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640-sheriff-photo

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.