On October 29, 2016, at approximately 3:30 PM, YCSO deputies were dispatched to a traffic offense incident near Western Drive, Cottonwood, regarding a potentially impaired driver. The caller was able to obtain a license plate showing the registered owner as Dailey Hicks. The vehicle was identified as a 1995 Geo sedan, blue in color. Deputies were aware that 22-year-old Dailey Hicks Jr. from Cottonwood, the vehicle owner’s son, was wanted on a felony warrant and had been pursued a few days prior in Cornville.
The suspect driver continued along Western Drive and made a left turn onto Highway 260, ignoring a red light and causing traffic to abruptly stop to avoid collisions. He continued east on Highway 260 as deputies began a pursuit while backing off when necessary to prevent movement by the suspect that could endanger nearby motorists. The driver reached speeds of 80mph and as he approached Old Highway 279, he crossed over the double yellow line to pass other cars, including a DPS Trooper. The Trooper began pursuing the vehicle which entered north I-17 from Highway 260.
While canvassing Western Drive, deputies located the suspect vehicle parked at a convenience store in the 4000 block of Western Drive. Deputies waited briefly before seeing a young male matching the description of Hicks Jr., enter the vehicle. Deputies approached the vehicle and asked the man to exit, but he refused multiple commands and remained locked inside. The deputy did notice a distinctive tattoo on his forearm during the contact. Without warning, the driver started the vehicle and accelerated away while the deputy was still standing next to the driver’s door. He drove onto the sidewalk adjacent to the front entrance of the store, and then reversed the vehicle making several unsafe turning maneuvers before fleeing and nearly colliding with another car entering the parking lot.
While north on I-17, 3 DPS Troopers were now in pursuit of the suspect who eventually exited I-17 at McGuireville and drove through a stop sign on Cornville Road. The suspect continued east on Beaver Creek Road, at times driving in the opposite lane of travel causing motorists driving west to flee their lane to avoid a collision. Due to the suspect’s reckless disregard for others, law enforcement officers terminated the pursuit. The vehicle was later found abandoned at the end of Goldmine Road in Rimrock, stuck in heavy brush. A baggie of meth was found in the front seat. The suspect could not be located after a search of the general area which included assistance from a DPS Ranger helicopter team.
On Snday morning October 30, 2016, just before 7 AM, a citizen reported hearing a man calling for help in the area of Soda Springs Ranch in Rimrock. EMS personnel arrived and found the man, who was wearing only blue shorts, sitting on the edge of a cliff. He was scratched as if he had been running through brush and complaining about being cold. He had a tattoo on his back that said “Hicks,” but gave deputies a false name. Deputies on scene confirmed it was Hicks Jr. based on a photo that was obtained along with matching tattoos.
After medical treatment, Hicks Jr. was arrested and booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Providing False Identity, Aggravated Assault with Vehicle x2, Resist Arrest, Flee Pursing Law Enforcement Vehicle, Endangerment, Possession/Transportation/Sale of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Marijuana. He remains in-custody on a no bond probation hold.