On Friday April 14, 2023 two Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were presented with citations from the United States Army, Criminal Investigations Division for their work in tracking down stolen Army equipment and apprehending those involved with the theft.
In July of last year, the YCSO was informed that a trailer carrying a shipping container with Army equipment bound for Kansas from California, had been stolen from a truck that had broken down in the Seligman area in norther Yavapai County. YCSO deputies took the initial call but due to the lack of information, they were not able to locate the trailer, the equipment, nor any suspects.
A few months later in September, the Army CID investigators contacted YCSO Detectives Scott Perry and Chad Nelson that they had been able to track a tracker ping signal for the trailer in Chino Valley. The detectives were able to locate the trailer at the home of a man who later would be one of 5 people arrested for the theft. The contents of the container, which included sensitive and classified equipment valued at approximately $400,000, were not immediately located.
Anther few months passed and in November 2022, Perry and Nelson through good old detective work, tracked down other suspects who led them to dump sites where the detectives and Army investigators were able to recover approximately 90% of the equipment.
The Army, grateful to the YCSO detectives for the hard work, presented Detective Scott Perry and Detective Chad Nelson with commendations and medals at a small ceremony in the office of Sheriff David Rhodes. The commendations read:
For exceptionally meritorious achievement while assigned as the lead detectives in this multi-agency operation with the Fort Huachuca Resident Agency, Southwest Field Office, from September 2022 – November 2022. Your commitment to the mission and unparalleled investigative expertise were crucial to the successful seizure of over $400,000 worth of U.S. Government equipment. Your exemplary performance was in keeping with the finest traditions of the law enforcement service and reflects great credit on you, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Both Perry and Nelson said they were honored by the commendations. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes’ statement went beyond the humility of the two men. “I am the one honored by having Detectives Perry and Nelson as members of this agency, with their expertise and dedication to solving crimes committed in this county. Recognition from the U.S. Army of their efforts is a distinction to be praised despite the detective’s modesty.”