Joseph Daniel Gibbons has been arrested in Snowflake, after over 20 cows were found dead in the area.
According to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, it was alerted to five deceased cattle that had suffered gunshot wounds in a pasture off of Hay Hollow Road on August 22.
The cattle owner notified the Arizona Department of Agriculture – Livestock Division and an investigation was initiated. Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) detectives ultimately partnered with the Department of Agriculture Investigators and conducted a lengthy investigation.
During the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a residence on the 8900 block of Charolais Trail in the Snowflake area. During the execution of the search warrant, detectives seized numerous weapons believed to be involved in the shooting of the livestock. On October 31, 2024, a report was received back from the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Lab that indicated a bullet taken from a deceased cow matched one of the weapons that was seized from the residence.
On November 20, 2024, an additional search warrant was served at the residence and property seeking additional evidence of the crime. Additionally, the 38-year-old Gibbons was arrested and booked into Navajo County Sheriff’s Office Jail for two counts of animal cruelty and one count of killing of livestock.
With 22 cattle deceased, the estimated loss for the cattle rancher is in excess of $65,000.00.
Arizona is an open-range state. That means that the responsibility for keeping livestock off the property falls on the property owner, not the livestock owner. However, the property owner cannot shoot the livestock to prevent them from coming onto their property.
“Navajo County has numerous cattle growers currently raising cattle for sale to local consumers as well as small independent families raising cattle. Navajo County was built on the industry of raising cattle and maintains a deep history in the cattle business. My deputies will respond and investigate all reports of crimes against livestock,” stated Navajo County Sheriff Clouse.