Category: Court News

DOLAN SPRINGS – A firefighter who has relocated to Illinois can partly thank the pandemic for not being sent to jail for stealing roughly $24,000 from the Dolan Springs-based Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District (LMRFD). Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert ordered a one-year probation term for Phillip Picard, 32, without incarceration. Picard pleaded guilty to theft in a scheme involving collecting pay for some days and hours he did not work. Defense attorney Virginia Crews told the Court that Picard quickly and fully reimbursed the district when the compensation anomalies were discovered in early 2018, well before he was…

GOLDEN VALLEY – Multiple units from multiple law enforcement agencies engaged in vehicular pursuit of a suspect who pepper sprayed the face of a state trooper in Golden Valley Wednesday. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) said the ordeal began with a routine traffic stop of a Dodge pickup truck at 4:40 p.m. at the Maverick on Highway 68. “The male suspect driver was uncooperative with the trooper, sprayed pepper spray in the face of our trooper and fled the scene,” DPS said. “A pursuit ensued. The suspect drove into a mobile home park and began driving in circles, finally…

TOPOCK – The Mohave County sheriff’s office reports it is investigating a deliberate vehicular homicide in the Colorado River community of Topock. Agency spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said deputies responded Wednesday 1at 7:48 p.m. to a residence in the 13000 block of S. Shore Parkway. “John Michael Bondello, 49, Topock, was found to have been struck by a motor vehicle and was pronounced dead on scene,” Mortensen said. She said detectives subsequently responded to conduct the investigation. Mortensen said it was learned that Bondello had been in an argument with his friend James Richard Edwards, 50, Buckeye. “Bondello ultimately armed himself…

BULLHEAD CITY – A Bullhead City woman reportedly stabbed her boyfriend in the neck during a domestic quarrel. Officers responded to the incident in the 200 block of Phyllis Drive at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said arriving officers encountered Shelby Lynn Garoutte, 27, who was outside and armed with two knives. “Garoutte refused to drop her weapons and listen to police commands,” Fromelt said. “An officer deployed a less than lethal munition to gain compliance.” Garoutte was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation and clearance before she was booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention…