HikeArizona.COM

A Coconino National Forest Law Enforcement Officer fatally shot an individual in the area of the Mogollon Rim south of Clints Well yesterday afternoon.

Details are sketchy at this point. It will be interesting to learn the circumstances about this in the days to come.

For now, the Daily Sun seems to have the most informative article about it I could find.
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/forest ... 58cd1.html

Officer made a traffic stop near a campsite. Suspect had a warrant and was driving a stolen vehicle. Suspect maced the officer. Officer used lethal force. That's what I glean from here:

http://flagscanner.com/fsmajor-officer- ... eveloping/

Interesting to listen to the communications.

News release about the incident is attached.

It must have been terrifying for this 2 year law enforcement officer (15 years with the forest service but not in law enforcement apparently) to be maced like that, in the wilderness. I'm sure he thought he was going to die. On these basic facts, the shooting was clearly justified assuming all facts check out. It's good that a county agency is investigating this federal matter.

I listened to the radio dispatch and I was under the impression that Pine/Strawberry responded to the scene and transported him to a acceptable landing zone. Other media reported that he was transported by ground ambulance to Payson.

More info in the Payson Roundup.