APACHE COUNTY, Ariz. – A suspect was shot and killed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper on the night of Saturday, June 18.

The shooting happened near US 191 in Sanders, near the Arizona-New Mexico border around 10:15 p.m.

It’s not known what led up to the shooting, but DPS says the suspect was killed and there were no injuries to authorities.

The suspect hasn’t been identified.

The investigation is ongoing. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-trooper-shoots-kills-suspect-in-apache-county-dps-says?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2N25vysgeBrWcS0WQw2cSTlx6W8WwER07gmCY2z3LzKmA_0HtkvM6S6dQ

 

On May 27, 2022, Steven John Peterson (33), and Kristen Ann Sanderson (31) both of Lakeside were found guilty of multiple charges relating to sexual conduct with a minor. Steven was remanded to the Navajo County Jail and Kristen was instructed to report to probation. Sentencing for both is scheduled for June 2022.
On December 10, 2018, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a 15-year-old female of Lakeside, being sexually abused by Steven. The investigation was turned over to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit. During the investigation, Detectives learned that Kristen was also involved in the abuse. The Detectives served multiple search warrants resulting in numerous items of evidence collected.
On May 27, 2022, at the Navajo County Superior Court, Kristen was found guilty of Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual Conduct with a Minor. Steven was found guilty of three counts of Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, and five counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor. All the charges listed are felonies.
Sheriff Clouse stated the following: “Crimes against children are an absolute priority to me and the entire Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. We pray for the victim in this case and hope they can find healing in their recovery from this difficult situation. Investigations such as this, take a lot of time and persistence in the investigative portion and in the courtroom. I want to thank the NCSO Criminal Investigations Unit for their work in this case. I also want to speak to all victims in the county, if you or someone you know is in a position of danger please reach out to us or someone you trust for help.”
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The small aircraft crashed in the meadow near Show Low Creek south of 18th Place, officials said.

Two people have died after a small plane crashed in Show Low on Wednesday, according to the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District.

Officials said around 6 p.m., Timber Mesa Fire and Medical and the Show Low Police Department responded to a report of a small aircraft that had crashed in the meadow near Show Low Creek south of 18th Place.

Emergency crews provided medical treatment to the two passengers on board the plane, but one passenger succumbed to injuries on scene. The other passenger is in critical condition, officials said.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Department said that while responding to the crash, one of their deputies was involved in a two-vehicle crash. Sheriff’s officials said the deputy received minor injuries, while the other parties involved were not hurt.

“I was getting dinner tonight, over at the Sonic, when all of a sudden all I heard was a boom,” said Tiffany, who was half a mile away from the plane crash scene.

“The Timber Fire company, all their ambulances and fire trucks, and all the Show Low Police Department were all Code 3 with their lights and sirens going.”

“As I made my way leaving the Sonic, you could see black smoke near where the McDonald’s was and I was like ‘oh that’s not good,’” Tiffany said.

Tiffany said she found out hours later the loud noise she heard and the smoke she saw was a deadly plane crash.

“It’s shocking to know what that noise was,” she said.

A Navajo Country Sheriff Deputy also crashed in route to the plane crash.

12 News

On May 24, 2022, Deputies arrested Artemio Badello Vazquez (40) of Mexico. Artemio was booked into the Navajo County Jail for Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Dangerous Drugs for Sale, Transportation of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm during a Drug Offense.
At approximately 6:51 am, while Deputies were on routine patrol, they conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near milepost 292, east of Holbrook, for civil traffic violations. During the contact with the driver and sole occupant, Deputies recognized indicators of criminal activity and were granted a consent search. The consent search revealed, an estimated 3.5 ounces of Methamphetamine, an altered and modified firearm, and four unknown type of pills. The unknown pills have been sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s lab for testing. The estimated street value of the illegal drugs is over $8,000.00.
Sheriff Clouse stated: “This is another example of the dangers my Deputies encounter every day during their patrols. During a traffic stop, you never know who or what you may encounter. This modified firearm was within the arm’s reach of the driver. I am proud of the work each of my Deputies do every day to help keep our communities safe. During this stop, illegal drugs and an illegal firearm were removed from the streets.”

 

Starting later this week, people may notice the West Fork Black River and its tributaries temporarily colored green for brief periods in certain reaches of the stream.

This is because Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists will be conducting a temporary dye flow test beginning at the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest boundary near Thompson Trailhead and progressing downstream to a fish barrier on the West Fork Black River near Forest Road 25. The dye flow tests will be conducted for 3-4 weeks.

The purpose of the dye flow test is to determine the flow rate of the river. Such dyes are commonly used in streams and rivers to accurately measure stream flow between upstream and downstream points. This dye, called Bright Dyes, is non-toxic, biodegradable, safe for potable water and agriculture use, and will not harm fish, wildlife, or humans in any way. The dye dissipates quickly and the water will return to normal in less than one hour.

For questions about the project, please contact Pinetop Region Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager Ryan Follmuth at (928) 532-3292, rfollmuth@azgfd.gov.

On May 17, 2022, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop on State Route 87 at milepost 340, south of Winslow, for civil traffic violations. Edward Jose Tovar-Gonzalez (31) of Phoenix, was arrested and booked into Navajo County Jail for Possession of Narcotic Drugs, Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale, and Transportation of Narcotic Drugs.
Following the traffic stop, a Gila County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit assisted by walking their K-9 around the vehicle to perform a free air sniff. The K-9 had a positive alert. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed nearly 56,000 suspected M-30 Fentanyl pills, and 2 grams of Cocaine. The estimated street value of the drugs is nearly $1,400,000.00.

On May 12, 2022, the Major Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) arrested four individuals, all booked into Navajo County Jail for drug charges. The MCAT Detectives conducted a traffic stop in the Show Low area for civil traffic violations. Richard Blodgett (46) of Concho, and Britain Peters (42) of Eager, were both taken into custody after a firearm, 6 ounces of Methamphetamine, and 160 suspected M30 Fentanyl pills were in the vehicle. As a result of the continued investigation, Detectives obtained a search warrant for two hotel rooms in the Show Low area. Upon execution of the search warrant, Jessica Calkins (44) of Mesa, was arrested on a valid and confirmed warrant for drug-related charges, and Cheri Lee (34) of Mesa, was also taken into custody for multiple drug-related charges. The search warrant of the location revealed an additional 1 ounce of Methamphetamine and approximately 30 suspected M30 Fentanyl pills. The estimated street value of the drugs is over $15,000.00.

On May 16, 2022, Dashaun Tice Ballentine (27) of Rocky Mountain, NC, was arrested and booked into Navajo County Jail for two counts of Theft of Means of Transportation. Dashaun is currently being held on a $100,000.00 cash-only bond.
Navajo County Sheriff’s Office received an attempt to locate (ATL) from Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office regarding a vehicle that had fled from Law Enforcement on eastbound Interstate 40 with a stolen license plate. A Navajo County Deputy located the vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 near Winslow. The driver, upon seeing the deputy, immediately pulled off the interstate at exit 252, Hipkoe Drive. The Deputy contacted the Dashaun and took him into custody without incident.
The Deputy contacted the Los Angeles Police Department and learned that Dashaun had stolen the vehicle at knife point from a car dealership in Los Angeles, CA. The Deputy is working directly with the Los Angeles Police Department in the furtherance of this investigation.

 

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for intermittent daytime lane restrictions on State Route 260 (known locally as White Mountain Boulevard) near Pinetop-Lakeside from Monday, May 16, to Thursday, June 9.

Drivers should allow extra time and adjust their travel times accordingly while the following traffic restrictions will be in place daily from 7 a.m to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays:

Intermittent lane restrictions between Poplar Drive and just east of the junction with State Route 73 (mileposts 354 – 358).
The speed limit will be reduced in the work zone.
The restrictions will be lifted each day after work hours and during weekends.

The restrictions are needed so crews can safely complete spot pavement repairs along a 4-mile segment of SR 260 that will help extend the pavement life of the roadway.