YCSO deputies were positioned on Highway 169 and S. River Drive, Dewey, attempting to locate a stolen vehicle involved in an earlier I17 pursuit with DPS officers. Just after midnight, a YCSO deputy spotted a suspicious man and possible suspect walking near Highway 169. When the deputy attempted to contact him, the suspect ran. The deputy eventually caught up with the suspect in a nearby commercial parking area where the suspect attacked him. During the fight, the suspect entered the driver’s side of the deputy’s patrol vehicle in an apparent effort to escape as the deputy continued attempts to subdue the suspect. During the struggle, the patrol vehicle began moving with the open door striking the deputy. As the altercation continued and fearing for life, the deputy shot the suspect. The patrol vehicle came to rest after striking a tree. An assisting deputy in the area arrived quickly and the suspect was placed in handcuffs.
Both the deputy and suspect were treated by EMS personnel at the scene.
The deputy sustained significant injuries to his face and upper body during the fight and contact with the vehicle and was flown to a Phoenix area hospital where he remain in serious but stable condition.
The suspect, in his early 30’s, was transported to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center east campus and eventually flown to a Phoenix area hospital where he later died.
DPS officers have indicated this suspect was the same person involved in the earlier vehicle pursuit on I17. Following a search of the area around Highway 169 and S. River Drive, the stolen vehicle was found less than ½ a mile away. The suspect had apparently hidden the stolen vehicle just prior to contact with the deputy. A A record check indicates the suspect was on parole and had a warrant issued due to parole violations.
In compliance with Yavapai County Sheriff Department policy, the name of the deputy will not be released until a 48 hour window has expired. The suspect’s name is being withheld pending verification of his identity and next of kin notification. The DPS Special Investigations Unit (SIU) will be handling the review of this incident and SIU detectives arrived quickly to begin their investigation.