Tag Archives: Highway 89

Neighborhoods Along Hwy 89 “GO” Order Downgraded to “SET”

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that we are lifting the “GO” evacuation order as of 9:00 AM Sunday morning April 24th, 2022, for the residents living in the neighborhoods along Highway 89. The Tunnel Fire Incident Management Team has determined that the status and condition of the fire at this time is no longer an imminent threat to the neighborhoods along Highway 89 and has recommended allowing residents back into their homes.

Residents returning to these neighborhoods will return to a “SET” status. The Incident Management Team and the Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that the conditions and status of the fire could change at any time resulting the return of a “GO” evacuation status. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will communicate any change in status as soon as possible. This includes the neighborhoods of Timberline, Fernwood, Wupatki Trails, Girls Ranch Road, and Lenox Park. It is important to note that the Coconino National Forest in that area, including the Cinder Lakes OHV Area, will remain closed, due to a temporary closure order from the US Forest Service. The
downgrade from “GO” to “SET” is mainly applicable for the private properties that lie within these areas.

The Sheriff’s Office will begin the re-entry of these residents at 9:00 AM Sunday, April 24, 2022. Evacuated residents are instructed to report in person to the north parking lot of the Silver Saddle Trading Post, located at 9001 N US Highway 89 in Flagstaff, AZ. Residents will be required to show identification or other documents verifying their address before they are allowed entry. Residents are required to check in at this location prior to accessing the neighborhood. Once the check-in process has been completed, residents will be able to access their properties.

Those who do not check in at the re-entry point, you will be turned around at the roadblock at Campbell and Hwy 89 and instructed to return to the Silver Saddle re-ntry point. No one else is allowed to return to the evacuated area but residents during this time, to ensure enough time is allowed to evaluate their properties. Prior to opening Hwy 89 to passing motorists and removing all individual roadway checkpoints, it is vital all residents check in.

The Hwy will remain closed Until 1:00 pm. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will continue to patrol the area heavily and enforce closures. All members of the public are reminded to be cautious of the increase in traffic in firefighting apparatus and closure of the
forest along Hwy 89 in and around the fire area.

As residents return, you should be aware of some expected by-products of wildfire, such as smoldering stumps and sinkholes are normal. Should you observe hazardous tree or structure issues, we ask you to contact the appropriate agency on their non–emergency numbers to address these problems. If you observe any emergency issues such as spot fires or immediate threats to yourself or the community,contact 911.

For information related to re-entry, please visit www.coconino.az.gov/Re-Entry-Information

Those impacted by the Tunnel Fire can receive in-person and online support and services through the Coconino County Assistance Center. In-person services are offered at The Guidance Center from 9am – 7pm daily at 2695 E Industrial Dr., Flagstaff/or access via 2187 N Vickey St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (look for the sandwich board signs). Online services can be found at coconino.az.gov/help. Please call the Tunnel Fire Call Center with questions at (928) 679-8525 from 7 am to 7 pm. Find ongoing updates related to the Tunnel Fire at coconino.az.gov/TunnelFire

We thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

Daytime lane closures on State Route 89A near Jerome scheduled to begin June 5

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89A between the town of Jerome (milepost 344) and Old Fain Road (milepost 330) while a pavement-repair project is underway. Drivers could experience delays up to 30 minutes while SR 89A is reduced to one lane only.

Work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

Flaggers and a pilot car will direct drivers through the work zone.

The restrictions are necessary so ADOT crews can do fog-seal work, which helps to protect and extend the life of the highway pavement.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Four-hour closure scheduled Friday night on SR 89 at Hell Canyon, weather permitted

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CHINO VALLEY — As progress continues on the new bridge over Hell Canyon on State Route 89 (milepost 346), approximately 13 miles north of Chino Valley, crews will need to close the road to pour concrete on the bridge deck Friday (May 6) between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Drivers traveling on SR 89 Friday night into Saturday morning need to plan ahead as the road will be closed in both directions. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with the road closure.

As preparations take place leading up to the closure, crews will have SR 89 narrowed to one lane through the work zone from 6 p.m. on Friday night to 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Minimal delays are expected.

The next milestone for the bridge replacement project will be to open the new bridge to two-way traffic in mid-June.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zones with caution, slow down and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

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.

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.