Ash Fork Az

Flagstaff History: Babbitt's burglar got away in dim light

From 1886 -- It's warm this week.

The stage fare from Ash Fork to Prescott has been reduced from 10 to seven dollars.

Bricks for Kilpatrick's new store are being hauled in from the kilns east of town.

The new Santa Fe engines have arrived. They're not as pretty as some but they are built especially for speed. With a 19x24 cylinder and six-foot drivers, they will take any passenger train over the mountains in and out of Flagstaff at a 40 mph rate and never sweat a hair.

100 YEARS AGO

A burglar had a narrow escape Friday night when Night Watchman Callahan heard a noise in Babbitt's Store. When he came in, he discovered the thief lugging a saddle toward the door. So he cut loose, making the thief drop his booty and flee through the back door. There were several bullet holes and the glass in the door shattered but dim light had made Callahan's aim at the culprit poor.

A regular organized Fire Company would be a splendid thing to consider. We have several different hose companies but lack of organization has led to a decline and several lively members have moved away. We have plenty of good equipment, it only needs organization for us to have a fine, effective firefighting force on the job whenever we have a blaze.

Robin A. Craig, citizen member, and J.B. Girand, territorial engineer, have returned from their trip over the territorial highway from Prescott. After leaving Camp Verde, they came on by team since the road up the Mogollon Rim is impassable by auto. J.A. Trenberth and his force of 70 men are hard at work on the section up Beaver Creek Hill, but limited funding will keep their work on a short rein.

75 YEARS AGO

The Flagstaff business section assumed a carnival atmosphere on Monday as police officers began affixing red tags to cars violating the new 45-minute parking regulation.

The CCC men were burning twigs from their blight work in Upper Oak Creek Canyon when the wind came up. The fire swept up the Canyon until it back-fired at the cliff, where -- thanks to the fast work of the CCC workers, nearby Forest Service men, local residents and a good heavy rain -- it was brought under control after burning only about 25 acres.

There have been 37 forest fires in the past 10 days; nearly all have been lightning caused. The Forest Service Office says that it is not unusual for there to be as many as two or three hundred fires before the rains come.

Deputy Involved Shooting in Ash Fork – Suspect Deceased

On February 25, 2010, just before 9 A.M., a Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputy was involved in an on duty shooting at the Ash Fork Chevron Station, just of I40.

The deputy was in the area after responding to an earlier call involving an armed man who confronted employees at a nearby business. The employees told dispatchers the man had just left their location driving a water truck, and was now stopped at the Chevron Station. The deputy arrived at the Chevron within minutes and spotted the vehicle and suspect.

The suspect was standing adjacent to the water truck which was stopped at the main gas pumps. As the uniformed deputy approached the suspect regarding the earlier call, the suspect pulled out a handgun and confronted the deputy. The deputy drew his weapon and fired, hitting the suspect. The suspect fell to the ground and was pronounced dead after medical personnel arrived. The deputy was not injured.

Assisting deputies sealed off the area and contained witnesses pending the arrival of YCSO detectives. At approximately 12 noon, detectives from the Department of Public Safety, Officer Involved Shooting Team, arrived to take over the investigation.

Both the name of the deputy and suspect are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing.

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