On May 3, 2018 Navajo County Probation Department (NCPD) notified authorities that James Richards of White Mountain Lakes could appear in Show Low Justice with a weapon and cause a problem. NCPD Officers learned from concerned citizen that James Richards would be at the Show Low Court house on Thursday May 3rd and made statements that he intended to “shoot it up.”
Richards is a convicted felon and is a prohibited possessor. Major Crime Apprehension Team (MCAT) detectives working with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) were able to confirm Richards’ status and his past criminal history.
MCAT detectives working with officers of NCPD staked out the court and identified Richards as he arrived in his vehicle. Richards was intercepted prior to entering the court house at which time he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. Detectives took Richards into custody without incident.
Detectives served a search warrant on his residence in White Mountain Lakes at which time they multiple guns including an AR-15 rifle under the bed and two AK-47’s in a secret compartment under the stairs along with barrel magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. There was a total of eight weapons seized at the residence. James Richards was booked into Navajo County Jail charged with misconduct with weapons as a felon and bringing a firearm to a court. Further charges will follow due to the weapons found at the residence.
Sheriff KC Clark remarked that without concerned citizen involvement notifying law enforcement officials this situation, it could have easily had a significant tragic outcome. “We cannot say enough – our citizens are the best resource in preventing and solving crime.”
James Richards was released on a $1,000 Paper Bond.
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office reminds people with any information on a crime to contact WETIP at 800-78CRIME or contact the Sheriff’s Office at (928)532-6060 or (928)524-4050. Callers may request to remain anonymous.