Graffiti ‘Artist’ rescued After Fall from Storm Drain

On April 4, 2020, around 3:30 PM, YCSO dispatchers received a call from a 26-year-old Prescott man who indicated he had fallen from a ‘tunnel’ resulting in a broken leg and upper body cuts and bruises. The location was off Highway 89 just outside of Prescott as your heading towards Wilhoit. While deputies and EMS crews were responding, the injured subject was kept on the line with dispatchers so they could monitor his consciousness and level of pain. Personnel started arriving around 20 minutes after the initial call, utilizing GPS coordinates from the cell phone call for direction.  

With EMS personnel and a medical helicopter on standby, personnel from the Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team’s (YCSRT) Backcountry Unit arrived in short order to secure the subject, triage injuries, and get him up to the roadway safely. During this time, Highway 89 was closed to allow emergency vehicle access. Just after 6PM, the subject was loaded into an ambulance and transported to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott.  

During the rescue, it was learned the subject had been ‘tagging’ inside the drainage tunnel, slipped on the mossy surface and fell into the ravine suffering a broken leg. He was cited for a Criminal Damage Violation. A bag of spray cans was recovered. 

As always, thanks to our incredible search and rescue volunteers who remain at the ready to help a stranger at a moments notice. Also thanks to the Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation for their assistance with the road closure.