Law Enforcement Search for Stolen Vehicle Suspect in Vernon Area

Apache County Sheriff’s Office Joseph Dedman Jr., Sheriff

 For Release: August 29th, 2017                                        CONTACT: Shane Bevington

 Law Enforcement Search for Stolen Vehicle Suspect in Vernon Area

(Vernon, AZ) On August 29th, 2017, at approximately 12:29pm, the Apache County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dispatch Center received a telephone call from the Show Low Police Department. Dispatchers were advised that Show Low police officers were following a stolen semi-truck tractor, which was originally reported stolen out of Mesa, into Apache County via U.S. Route 60. Officers followed the stolen vehicle from a safe distance and no pursuit was initiated due to public safety concerns.

The driver of the stolen vehicle reportedly reached speeds in excess of 80 miles per hours, at which time the driver turned the vehicle south of Apache County Road 3140, Vernon. A short time later, the stolen vehicle was located on Apache County Road 3140 near Forest Road 3, unoccupied.

Law enforcement personnel from the Apache County Sheriff’s Office, Show Low Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, United Stated Forest Service, Arizona Game & Fish, and White River Police Department quickly set up a perimeter around the area and began searching for the suspect. Shortly after, Apache County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Vernon Elementary School and advised school administration to place the school on lockdown as a precaution, although there was no indication that the suspect fled towards the school. The lockdown was later lifted without incident.

The identity of the suspect is unknown at this time and it is not known if he is armed, however, he is described as a Caucasian male, with dark hair, a dark beard, and wearing glasses. The suspect’s age and clothing description is unknown. Law enforcement personnel, including an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter and Arizona Department of Corrections K-9’s are still in the area searching for suspect.

For additional information, please visit the Apache County Sheriff’s Office website at: http://www.co.apache.az.us/sheriff. Anyone with any information regarding this matter is urged to contact the Apache County Sheriff’s Office at: (928)337-4321 or 1-800-352-1850. If there is an emergency, please dial 911.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *