A fugitive from Yavapai County, Robert David Pearsall III, who was convicted in 2019 on charges of attempted 1st degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault, was captured by Payson Police and taken into custody after three years on the run on July 22, 2021.
Pearsall’s 2019 convictions stemmed from a 2018 incident when he viciously attacked a man at a campsite, hitting him repeatedly with a board. The victim suffered multiple injuries including a severe head injury and partial loss of his ear. Pearsall was out on bond at the time of his trial but then fled before his conviction was final.
In the early morning of July 22 Pearsall was stopped by a Payson Police Officer for a traffic violation on a moped, but then fled as the Officer began asking for identification. Pearsall revved the moped and took off, and then ditched the moped to run. The Payson officer went after him and was able to take him into custody. Pearsall gave a false name when arrested but the Officer later determined the suspect to be the Robert Pearsall, the fugitive wanted in Yavapai County.
Pearsall is now facing additional criminal charges from the arrest in Payson including aggravated assault on law enforcement after assaulting the officer, and on weapons charges.
He is currently in the Gila County Jail.