LITTLEFIELD – A homicide suspect wanted by authorities in southern California was arrested on May 9 in extreme northwest Arizona. Detectives with the San Diego Police Department contacted the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on May 5, advising that murder suspect Noel Frishknecht might be camping in a remote area near Littlefield.
Deputies conducting surveillance located a travel trailer on the bank of the Virgin River, about four miles west of Littlefield, according to MCSO public information officer Anita Mortensen. She said a team of deputies, a K9 unit, and BLM officers converged on the trailer at about 1 p.m. on May 9.
“With the assistance of a BLM drone, units were able to time their approach perfectly as the suspect entered the trailer and would be less likely to see them approaching in the open desert,” Mortensen said. “Law Enforcement fanned out in front of the trailer and gave verbal commands to the suspect. After a short time of giving orders, the suspect exited the trailer and was taken into custody without incident.
Frishknecht, 60, was transported to the Adult Detention Facility in Kingman and booked on several outstanding felony warrants. He was still confined there, awaiting extradition as of May 15.
“Without the close cooperation between the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, BLM, and the information provided by San Diego PD Homicide Department, this would have been extremely difficult to navigate safely,” Mortensen said. “We thank them all for their cooperation and the safe outcome for all involved.”
Dave Hawkins
