The August meeeting of the Silent Witness board of directors featured 10 cases from the past 30 days. The callers from those 10 cases shared $2,900.00 in cash rewards. Eighteen felons went to Yavapai  Co. jails charged with a total of 64 felony charges. The Camp Verde Marshal's Office arrested one person on warrants.  Prescott Valley PD narcotics officers arrested 3 people on drug charges. Prescott PD arrested one and PANT arrested one person in Clarkdale. The YCSO Special Crimes Unit arrested 13 people in 5 different cases. Thanks to the media, the call takers and officers of Yavapai County this was another successful month for Silent Witness.

The 24th annual golf tournament to help raise money for the program is scheduled for Saturday, September 6th. For more information on how to enter or donate prizes call Steve Skurja at 777-7266. Enteries are still open and will remain so until Tuesday, September 2nd. Don't forget to vote!

Director Skurja says that things are still better then ever and records are still being set. 

Silent Witness is setting all time records since Sheriff Waugh invited the program back to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Director, Steve Skurja, says that the calls have doubled, arrest are way above last year at the time and rewards are up as well. Skurja gives credit to being able to spread the word throughout the county rather then just in the tri-city area.

Phase 22 of "Catch 22" will begin on May 1st 2008 and run through May 22nd 2008.  Watch for pictures of the felons in the Daily Courier and hear about them on KKLD, KVRD, KYCA and KPPV radio. Remember that you must call 1-800-932-3232 to get the $500.00 reward.

ARREST!!!!! Dispatchers at the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office in Prescott received two Silent Witness calls this morning before 09:30 about the where-abouts of Jose Acosta. He was featured in today's "Catch 22" and has been wanted for the last 3 years on child molestation charges. The callers said that they heard the advertisement on the radio and decided to call Silent Witness. Deputies from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office were sent to an area in the Village of Oak Creek and a short time later identified Acosta and made the arrest. Tonight the streets are a little safer.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) kicks off new Crime Prevention program. The YCSO has started the BOLO (Be On the Look Out) program for Yavapai County residents. The YCSO web site will feature unsolved crimes and missing people where leads are available. The adds will run as often as possible and photos will be attached when available. The site will be up dated on a regular basis. Residents may call the YCSO or Yavapai Silent Witness when they have information that will help solve the crime. To locate the site go back to the the home page of Silent Witness and look at the left side of the page. There is a list of sites including the YCSO. Click on the YCSO and there you are. Look for the BOLO page and check out the unsolved crimes.

Yavapai Silent Witness goes home!. The program has returned to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office after being away for the last 24 years. Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh invited the program back to the YCSO in February 2008 stating that the program would have a better chance of representing all of Yavaapi County and it's residents if hosted by the YCSO. Yavapai Silent Witness Dirctor, Steve Skurja, and the Yavapai Silent Witness Board of Dirtctors agreed and moved the program back to the YCSO on February 11, 2008. Nothing will change says Skurja, the phone number and address will remain the same and we will continue to take calls 24/7 and pay out cash rewards monthly just like we have for 24 years.

Phase 21 of "Catch 22" begins Saturday, December 1, 2007. All of the felons featured on this phase of "Catch 22" are worth $500.00 as long as you call 1-800-932-3232 to report their whereabouts. However, Day #7 is worth $3,000.00 but make sure you call 1-800-932-3232 when reporting. 

On October 19, 2007 Yavapai Silent Witness partnered with the Good Gun Founation in an attempt to help fight the drug problem in Yavapai county schools. The Good Gun Foundation donated $2,500.00 to YSW to start the new program in Yavapai County. People with information about meth, cocaine, heroin use or gang activity on high school or middle schools campus' are asked to report the crimes to Yavapai Silent Witness. If they report the information to YSW by calling 1-800-932-3232 YSW will pay a cash reward. For more information call Steve Skurja at 778-1444.

Chino Valley Police are looking for Jose Rogelio Herrera-Martinez who also goes by several aliases. He is a 34 year old Mexican male who is 5/7 and weighs about 175. He has long black hair which he wears in a ponytail. He is wanted for child molestation, sexual conduct with a minor, child abuse and forgery. He works at day labor in the Prescott area. A cash reward is being offered. 

Prescott Police Detectives are looking for the suspect/s in a recent burglary at the Twin Lakes Market on Hwy 89 north of Prescott. On June 25, 2007 at approximately 4:30 in the morning two people broke into the market. One suspect entered the store while the other stood look-out in the parking lot. One of the suspects left his shoes and socks behind which have been saved as evidence. Both suspects were young males and may live in the area. If you have information about this burglary or about a young man who may have lost his shoes recently call 1-800-932-3232.  

The Prescott Police Department "Cold Case Squad" is asking for the public's help in locating a witness from a 2002 homicide. On June 4, 2002 seventy-one (71) year-old Brenton Carpenter was murdered while in his home in Yavapai Hills. Shortly after the murder, the Prescott Police Department was contacted by an anonymous witness who professed to have information regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police feel that the witness is still in the Prescott area and would like to talk to him or her. Police ask that this person call Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232. Rememebr that you never have to give your name. 

YCSO Searching for Sex Offender


Top 10 Most commonly stolen vehicles in Arizona:

1991 Honda Accord, 1995 Honda Civic, 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup,1994 Nissan Sentra, 1995 Chevy Pickup, 1998 Dodge Neon' 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup, 1994 Saturn SL, 1997 Nissan Altima and the 1994 Jeep Cherokee.

For more information check out the Arizona Auto Theft Authority link.