Tag Archives: crime

Sexual assault suspect in custody

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 25, at approximately 4:30 am, Jason Gonnie was taken into custody during a traffic stop at 4th Street and Highway 66 by Deputies from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Officers and the Flagstaff Police Department.

Gonnie was taken into custody without incident, during an early Saturday morning traffic stop, where he was then transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility.

Gonnie was booked for Kidnapping, Sex Assault, 3 counts of Endangerment, Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Burglary 2nd degree, Possession of Marijuana and a Probation Warrant. Gonnie currently has a $150,000.00 bond.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Flagstaff Police Department, Department of Public safety, United States Marshals Office, the media and the public for their assistance in bringing this matter to a peaceful resolution.

Barricaded Subject in Kachina Village not found in residence.

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 23, 2020 around 5:20 pm, after continued efforts by negotiators to contact the suspect Jason Gonnie with negative results, the Tactical Team was deployed and made entry into the residence off Chof Trail where Gonnie was last seen.

The entire multilevel residence was cleared and searched by the Tactical Team with the assistance of a canine and robot. Gonnie was not in the residence.

Detectives found through investigating the incident that the suspect was familiar with the family and the residence. Gonnie is believed to have broken into the lower level of the residence and contacted the victim sometime Wednesday night.

Gonnie remained at the residence until Thursday morning at which
point, he presented a weapon and refused to allow the victim and children to leave the home. It was during this time Gonnie reportedly sexually assaulted the victim. Around 1:00 pm on Thursday the victim was able to escape the residence with her two children after Gonnie moved to another level of the residence, leaving her alone.

Efforts to locate Jason Gonnie are ongoing. Gonnie is considered a threat to the public and potentially armed. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to use caution if they come in to contact with Gonnie. If anyone is aware of Gonnie’s location or sees him, they are asked to immediately
call 911 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Barricaded Subject in Kachina Village

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FLAGSTAFF – On January 23, 2020 since around 1:16 pm, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has been working a barricaded subject accused of Sexual Assault in the area of Chof Trail in Kachina Village. On scene deputies are still trying to confirm if the suspect is in the residence.

Information obtained from the reporting party was the victim along with two other children had removed themselves from the house and made their way to the reporting party’s residence. The reporting party advised that the suspect was the only one in the residence.

After arriving on scene, deputies confirmed the safety of the victim and children who had been in residence. Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence in which the suspect was last seen. At this time no contact has been made with the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to attempt to contact the suspect through phone and loudspeaker. The suspect has been identified as Jason Gonnie an 18-year-old Native American male, 5 foot 9 inches tall, slim build, black hair and black eyes.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter has been deployed along with the Northern Arizona Regional Tactical Team. Efforts are ongoing to confirm Gonnie is still in the residence. Due to the ongoing investigations, no further details are available at this time. More information will be made available as the investigation progresses.

Arrest made in in Cosnino neighborhood death

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Casey Dark – CCSO booking photo

FLAGSTAFF – Detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the death of 45 year old Cosnino resident, Joshua Dark that occurred on December 26.

Immediately after the incident, Detectives served a search warrant on the residence where the incident occurred and interviewed Joshua’s wife regarding the shooting. Detectives have since interviewed several other witnesses as well.

Detectives presented the case to a Coconino County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury found probable cause to charge the suspect, Dark’s wife, 26 year old Casey Dark with 2nd Degree Murder. An arrest warrant was issued and on January 9, 2020 Casey was arrested without incident and booked into the Coconino County Jail for one count of 2nd Degree Murder. The United States Marshall’s Office assisted in locating and arresting Dark.

Sheriff’s detectives continue investigation into Williams burglaries

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WILLIAMS – Detectives continue to work to positively identify stolen property recovered in the search warrants conducted last week. The suspects were using a white GMC Yukon to travel in the Valle and Red Lake neighborhoods and are thought to have burglarized at least 20-25 residences between May and November 2019. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office and the Williams Police Department also are investigating burglaries that occurred within the City of Williams. Detectives recovered approximately 120 items of suspected stolen property during the search warrants and are diligently working to contact potential victims to identify their property. Due to the number of burglaries and items that were recovered, this is taking some time to put together.

Christopher Tow, age 27 of Williams and Clyde Dunwoody, age 36 of Red Lake were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail last week for 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Trafficking in Stolen Property, and 1st Degree Criminal Trespass. Sheriff’s deputies worked with the Williams Police Department in making the arrests.

The case remains active and under investigation by Detectives. As the investigation continues, the Sheriff’s Office anticipates additional charges to be referred to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office.

Two Suspects in Custody on Williams Area Burglaries

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WILLIAMS – On December 6, 2019 detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants in the Williams District of Coconino County and within the City of Williams. These search warrants stemmed from several burglaries that had been reported in the Red Lake and Valle neighborhoods north of Williams between May and November of 2019. During the investigation, Detectives were able to identify suspects in the case. During the execution of the search warrants, several items were located and recovered that had been reported stolen from the burglaries.

Christopher Tow, age 27 of Williams and Clyde Dunwoody, age 36 of Red Lake were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Trafficking in Stolen Property, and 1st Degree Criminal Trespass. The case remains active and under investigation, which may result in additional charges.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Williams Police Department with their assistance in this case.

Arrest Made in Alan Arvey Murder Case

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Michael Wyffels

FLAGSTAFF – On October 29, 2019 a suspect arrested in Portland, Oregon for his involvement in the August 17th murder of Alan Arvey was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility.

After Alan Arvey was identified as the victim in this case detectives were able to identify a suspect by tracking bank account transactions for Mr. Arvey. Detectives were able to identify a male subject captured on ATM video surveillance and other business surveillance video associated with purchases and withdrawals made both before and after Mr. Arvey was discovered deceased along Highway 89A, in Oak Creek Canyon. Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Michael Wyffels, a 55-year-old male from Sun City, Az.

These credit card transactions led detectives to the Portland, Oregon area. Detectives from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office worked with Detectives from the Washington County (OR) Sheriff’s Office to locate Wyffels at a residence in the town of Beaverton, Oregon. Wyffels was taken into custody by Oregon authorities for charges related to credit card fraud in the Beaverton, Oregon area on August 28, 2019. During the investigation, detectives found that Wyffels had been released from the Arizona Department of Corrections on August 16, 2019, one day prior to the murder of Alan Arvey.

On October 29, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office detectives took custody of Michael Wyffels from the Washington County (OR) Sheriff’s Office in Hillsboro, Oregon and transported him back to Flagstaff. Wyffels was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for First Degree Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, and Theft of Means of Transportation. Wyffels is currently being held on a $3 million bond.

Double Murder victims identified

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WILLIAMS – The Coconino County Sheriff’s has arrested a Williams man for the murder of his wife and her sister at a home north of Williams.

The victims have been identified as 70 year old Elaine Fann and her 65 year old sister, Vivian Scheuerman. Both victims lived at Fann’s home on Pine Road in the Red Lake area. Both victims had
been shot and appeared to have died as a result of those injuries. Autopsies will be performed by the Coconino County Medical Examiners Office.

The suspect is identified as 60 year old Gustavo Espino. Espino also lived on the property and is believed to be the boyfriend and business partner or employee of Elaine. Espino was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on two counts of murder and being held on $2 million bond. Detectives are continuing the investigation into both deaths.

Double Murder Suspect in Custody

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WILLIAMS – The Coconino County Sheriff’s has arrested a Williams, AZ man for the murder of his wife and her sister at a home north of Williams.

Around 8:37 PM Sunday October 27th the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a Department of Public Safety trooper advising he had been driving on a county road in the Red Lake area when he was flagged down or stopped by the driver of a vehicle. The man approached the trooper and reported something to the effect that he couldn’t take it anymore and had killed his wife and her sister at their home. The Trooper detained the man and called the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the home address of the man and his wife and upon entering the home, found two females deceased inside the home. The man was transported to Flagstaff by Sheriff’s deputies. The suspect was interviewed by detectives where he made statements about his involvement in the deaths.

The case is being investigated as a homicide. The Sheriff’s Office is not releasing the names of the suspect or victims at this time pending notification of next of kin.

Deputies arrest Man from Parks during Child Exploitation Investigation

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Bryce W. Huddleston (CCSO Photo)

PARKS -– Detectives with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the FBI and the Northern Arizona Street Crimes Task Force, served a search warrant on a residence in the Pittman Valley area of Parks, Arizona. During the search warrant detectives took 29-year-old Bryce Huddleston into custody. He was later booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility in Flagstaff for 2 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a minor.

This search warrant and arrest is the result of a multi-month investigation after detectives received a tip indicating Bryce was in possession of child pornography. Information gathered during the investigation allowed detectives to identify Bryce and his place of residence. Several items of evidence belonging to Bryce were seized as evidence in this case.

This case is ongoing and additional charges may be added depending on the outcome of further investigation. No other information is available currently.