On March 30, 2018, around 10:30 PM, 62-year-old Mark Sims from Glendale, Arizona, was arrested for charges including Resisting Arrest (F), Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement x2 (F), Escape (F) and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Sims had previously been convicted of Child Molestation.
Just prior to 10:30 PM on March 30, 2018, a YCSO deputy conducted a license plate check on a blue 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe after observing a traffic violation on Highway 89 and Willow Lake Road, Prescott. The record check revealed that the registered owner, Mark Sims, had full extradition probation warrants from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. While the deputy positioned himself behind the vehicle, the driver made several abrupt lane changes without signaling and began travelling in excess of the 50 mph speed limit.
At Highway 89 and the Yavpe Connector, the vehicle quickly entered the left turn lane as the deputy activated his emergency lights intending a traffic stop. The vehicle drove onto the Yavpe Connector and slowed, but failed to immediately yield and travelled an additional ½ mile before stopping. The driver, later identified as suspect Sims, quickly exited the vehicle ignoring lawful directions from the deputy to remain inside.
Sims was visibly agitated and began yelling that he ‘was not going back to jail.’ An assisting deputy arrived as Sims continued to ignore commands while pacing back and forth and failing show his hands as directed. It appeared Sims was concealing something in his right hand. As the assisting deputy readied his Taser stun weapon, Sims ran towards an adjacent field. The assisting deputy caught up to Sims, forcing him to the ground. Sims continued resisting and would not release his hands causing concern that he might be in possession of a weapon. Both deputies were able to overpower Sims and he was handcuffed. Deputies recovered a knife at the scene of the struggle.
While in the process of placing Sims in a patrol car, the deputy loosened his grip briefly and Sims pulled away and began running across the road. The deputy chased Sims, caught him and held Sims after brief struggle in the middle of the roadway. He was returned to a patrol vehicle and continued to resist until forced inside and secured. He was treated briefly at the local hospital before being booked into the Yavapai County Jail on the indicated charges.