News & Story Feed

News & Story Feed

Aircraft Crash

Dec

Just before 9AM yesterday, December 13, 2019, a rancher called YCSO to report finding remnants of a plane crash on remote ranchland off of Flower Pot Road, east of 117, Yavapai County. This area is southeast of the I 17 and Highway 169. According to the rancher, the crash appeared a 'couple days old.' A body was also located at the crash site. Deputies arrived, confirmed the findings and called out rescue teams to search the area. No additional bodies were located. The aircraft is a fixed wing single engine type.

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Update: Missing Prescott man found alive on Peavine Trail

Sep

A Prescott man who was reported missing Wednesday, Sept. 18, was found at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Paul Richards, 67, was located on Tree House Loop on the Peavine Trail in Prescott, according to a Prescott Police Department news release.

Though in need of medical attention, Richards was alert and talking when first responders made contact with him, PPD reported.

“He had been in that location for two days and two nights, with little to no provisions,” Prescott PD spokesperson Jon Brambila said in a statement.

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Yavapai County Search and Rescue ‘Backcountry Unit” receive a very generous donation

Apr

On Wednesday April 17, 2019, Findlay Subaru Prescott and Subaru of America presented Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team (YCSRT) ‘Backcountry Unit” (BCU) with a check in the amount of $19,858.00. This is for the promotion on sold and leased vehicles between November 15, 2018, and January 2, 2019.

Dan Dravis, Back County Unit Manager, accepted the check on behalf of the team. BCU intends the money for training, jackets and upgrades in team based rescue gear.

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Recent Rescues Overview – Our dedicated Volunteers Always Answer the Call

Feb

Wickenburg area Rescue -- The Southern Unit of the Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team (YCSRT), responded to a call for help Tuesday, February 6, 2019, to locate and rescue a couple from Cottonwood who had become stranded with a broken Utility Vehicle (UTV) in the desert north of Wickenburg.

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Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers Honored

Feb

On January 30, 2019, Sheriff Scott Mascher and his command staff honored volunteers throughout the agency during a special ceremony at the beautiful Elks Theatre in Prescott. The event, organized by Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Services Coordinator Dennyse Loll, included special recognitions and dinner following the program.

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Missing 18-year-old found after night in woods - Got lost while riding ATV near Crown King

Jan

An 18-year-old man from Phoenix was found by rescue crews Monday morning, Jan. 21, after spending a cold night in the wooded area near Crown King.

Family and friends reported Jhon Zuluaga Ossa missing at about 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. The young man had last been seen riding off in a white Raptor ATV near South Senator Highway and Forest Service 362 at about 4 p.m.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) began assembling search crews immediately and was assisted Sunday night by a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew, according to a YCSO news release.

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In Yavapai County - AZDPS Air Rescue Milestone Event – Expansion of Night Time Technical Rescue Capabilities

Dec

Yavapai Sheriff's Office background on the rescue --

On November 11, 2018, after 5 PM, a 54- year-old Sedona man called for help after he got stuck on the side of Capitol Butte (aka Thunder Mountain), Sedona, while hiking up the side of the mountain. He was off trail and situated on a small rock about 4’ x 8’ and completely surrounded by near vertical faces. He only had a cell phone with him and was dressed in light clothing as darkness was approaching.

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Recent Rescues Overview – Helicopters and Dedicated Volunteers Are Key

Oct

On October 3, 2018, just before 2PM, a 38-year-old woman from Rimrock called YCSO dispatchers to report being stranded while hiking on Bell Rock, Sedona. She had been hiking since 9:30 AM and decided to become ‘adventurous’ by going off trail and up the mountain eventually reaching a point where she could no longer continue. Not feeling safe to go back down the way she came as it was too steep, she smartly called for help. Fortunately, YCSO dispatchers were able to capture GPS coordinates as she was unable to adequately explain her whereabouts.

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YCSO volunteer search-and-rescue groups begin donation campaign

Sep

Local residences, businesses will receive mailers
Volunteers with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Force are used to receiving recorded messages like this recent one:

“This is Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department. We have a 4-year-old girl missing in the Williams area. This is an all hands call out. Report to incident command. Please respond immediately if available.”

When they do, they gear up and get to work on finding the missing child, never expecting to receive compensation in return.

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Father/Son Rescued – Satellite tracker a key Lifeline

Jul

On July 9, 2018, around 10:30 PM, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman reporting her 44-year-old husband, 8-year-old son, and their dog were overdue from a hike in the Beaver Creek area. The pair left on July 8 and were expected to return the following day, July 9. She indicated receiving a message from the ‘Spot’ brand satellite tracking device on July 8 indicating her husband and son arrived for their designated hike and a message the following day stating they were back at their vehicle.

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