Crimes/Courts/Emergency Services
Fire danger
A small fire was reported behind a home at 302 Canyon Trail in Verde Village Wednesday evening. The fire was found to have been started by illegal fireworks. The 5-by-5 area was extinguished with a garden hose before Verde Valley Fire District crews arrived. The Yavapai Sheriff's Office officer also responded to the fire.
Fireworks are illegal in Arizona. Open fires are banned now in the Verde Valley.
A Camp Verde Marshal's deputy was patrolling the area of Sierra Verde Road and Ralston Ranch Road when he spotted what appeared to be a wild land fire in a wash.
When the deputy approached, he discovered five young women standing around an open fire. A 5-gallon can of gasoline was placed within five feet of the blaze.
The deputy discovered the girls, ages 15 through 18, had been drinking beer.
Since open fires are now banned, the women were ordered to extinguish the blaze.
He also found that a vehicle contained various alcohol beverages. In an ice chest the officer found Budweiser beer, Jack Daniels wine coolers, and two large bottles of Malibu Mango.
All the girls were either cited or juvenile referred for underage drinking.
DUI checkpoint busts 12 drivers
Verde Valley police agencies participated in a Memorial Day Weekend DUI Checkpoint on Arizona 89A in Prescott Valley at milepost 321. The Yavapai Tribal Police, Camp Verde Marshall's Office, Sedona Police Department and Cottonwood PD joined police agencies from the Tri-cities communities in screening drivers for drugs and alcohol.
Twelve motorists were arrested for driving under the influence between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Saturday night and Sunday morning.