On Thursday, just before 2:00 a.m., Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to E. Mesa Drive, Cottonwood, regarding a 2 to 3-year old child unattended in the roadway. The reporting party told deputies he was driving home and saw the female child lying in the road on Mesa Drive near Kachina Drive wrapped in a blanket and holding a pillow. She was wearing a diaper and no other clothing. Deputies later confirmed the child was 2 and 1/2-years-old.
During an initial canvass of the neighborhood deputies could not locate her parents. An emergency notification system phone alert to neighbors was also unsuccessful. Personnel from the Department of Child Safety (DCS) arrived on scene around 4:30 AM to assist with the investigation. Within a few minutes of their arrival, the child’s father was found while searching in the neighborhood. His wife had also just called 911 to report the girl missing. They live in the 6200 block of E. Mesa Drive and it appeared the child had wandered about a block before being found. Their daughter was otherwise in good condition.
Deputies and a specialist from DCS interviewed the child’s parents and examined their home. Both were cooperative and explained that their daughter attempted to leave the home on a previous occasion as she is apparently able to reach and operate the front door dead bolt. Last night they put her to bed around 8 pm. When mom woke up around 4:30am, she noticed the front door open and her daughter missing. She called 911. Deputies found no evidence of neglect involving the child or indications of alcohol or drug use involving the parents. Deputies discussed options to secure the home and prevent future incidents.
DCS personnel remained on site and will be involved in follow-up with the parents. YCSO is thankful to the reporting party for noticing the child during these early morning hours and calling law enforcement immediately. With the child at high risk while unprotected in the roadway, the callers timing and quick action very likely prevented a tragedy.
On August 1, 2016, at approximately 9 AM, a YCSO K9 deputy stopped a tan Lexus passenger vehicle with Colorado plates for unsafe speed. The vehicle was observed travelling in the number 1 lane at 35mph in a 75 mph zone on north I17 near
Highway 179. The driver was a 17-year-old male from Colorado and did not have a license in his possession. The vehicle contained 4 passengers including two 17-year-old females, a 17-year male, and 19-year-old Triston Gifford. All occupants were from Colorado. While speaking with the driver, the deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the interior of the Lexus. Deputies noted that all the occupants were very nervous during the interaction. The driver denied having any
During a search of the Lexus to locate the source of the marijuana odor, deputies found marijuana paraphernalia throughout the interior, nearly 3 pounds of marijuana in the trunk, and several ounces in a glass jar.marijuana or other drug contraband in the vehicle. During a records check of the each occupant, one of the females was found to have a Missing/Endangered alert out of Colorado and was immediately detained.
All the juveniles were booked at the Prescott Juvenile Detention Center on charges including Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana for Sales. Gifford was booked on the same charges at the Camp Verde Detention Center and remains in-custody on a $500 bond.