Graham County Sheriff’s Office Responds to 44 Incidents
The Graham County Sheriff’s Office responded to 44 incidents between Sept. 11 and the morning of Sept. 14, according to the agency’s latest incident report. The calls included DUI and drug investigations, welfare checks, theft and fraud reports, traffic incidents, disturbances, suspicious activity, a vehicle fire and other citizen-assistance calls.
One of the more significant incidents occurred early Sept. 11 when deputies conducted a DUI investigation on South First Avenue in Safford. The call began as a traffic stop before being changed to a traffic offense and then DUI. Two subsequent phlebotomy calls were logged at the Safford Police Department.
Later that morning, deputies conducted a welfare check on South Montierth Lane after a parent requested assistance checking on his 3-year-old son, saying he had not heard from the child in approximately a month and had been unable to establish contact with the child’s mother.
A fraud report was also taken Sept. 11 after a woman discovered that money from her Social Security check had been withdrawn after she believed she had misplaced her wallet. She provided the names of several people she believed might have been involved.
On Sept. 12, deputies investigated a theft involving a vehicle battery on South Victoria Lane. A separate fraud complaint involved a resident who received a scam call claiming she had won money. She disconnected from the caller and contacted deputies.
That evening, deputies responded to a traffic stop at 20th Avenue and Eighth Street that was changed to a drug investigation.
Another unusual incident occurred later that night when a side-by-side caught fire in the county. The fire was already out when deputies arrived. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle was no longer operable, and the owner requested a report for insurance purposes.
Deputies also responded to a complicated citizen-assistance call in Solomon involving a man who reported that people had been acting strangely around him and interfering with him. He said his wife had been missing for approximately 10 days and expressed concerns about an apparent attempt to create a fraudulent marriage license. The man also reportedly went outside with a firearm to scare people away. A juvenile was reportedly inside the residence.
On Sept. 13, a resident reported that two children on black mini bikes had stolen his wallet while he was standing in line at the Dollar General on U.S. Highway 191. The call was initially entered as a theft before being changed to a citizen-assistance call.
Deputies also investigated a report of an unwanted person at The Way Church on U.S. 191. The man had reportedly been asked to leave but was refusing to do so.
In the early morning hours of Sept. 14, deputies investigated a report of possible gunshots near the end of West Relation Street in Safford. The caller reported hearing what sounded like gunfire, and deputies searched an area described as being east of Daley Stop and in the desert between Reay and 20th streets. An officer subsequently reported being out with a vehicle in the area.
Shortly afterward, deputies responded to East Emory Road for a medical call involving a 67-year-old woman who had fallen. She was awake and breathing and required assistance getting up.
The final significant call listed in the report was a welfare check requested on U.S. Highway 70 near Safford Ranch. A family member asked deputies to check on his 42-year-old son, saying he had not been in contact with him since the previous morning and had a history of suicidal thoughts, although no current plan or action was reported.
Other calls during the reporting period included multiple traffic stops, an agency assist for the Arizona Department of Public Safety involving several subjects, an unwanted-subject complaint, loud-music complaints, a burglary alarm, civil standbys and reports of suspicious activity.
The report lists 44 total incidents handled by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office during the reporting period ending Sept. 14.
