Flagstaff, Arizona — Robbery suspect shot dead, officials say Assaulted the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant early thursday morning.
A CCSO representative responded to a call to the robbery at about 3:10 a.m. on Hidden Hills Road in Donnie Park, CCSO said.
Authorities said the caller told police that someone broke into his home and held the suspect at gunpoint.
The CCSO said the suspect fled the scene by jumping out of the window he had just broken into. When officers arrived, they found the suspect just west of the victim’s home.
Sergeant Jess Payne, an 11-year sheriff’s office veteran, gave the suspect verbal orders, which he initially obeyed, sheriffs said.
When Payne tried to take him into custody, the suspect attacked the sergeant and was able to strangle him, CCSO said. Authorities said the suspect also took Payne’s gun during the altercation.
Fearing for his life, Payne grabbed a gun and fired at the suspect, who attacked him in the back, his attorneys said. Authorities said the suspect was beaten once and taken into custody shortly thereafter.
The suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Eric Adamson of Peoria, Arizona, was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of injuries, according to the CCSO. Payne was examined by doctors at the scene and survived with minor injuries.
The CCSO said Adamson will be held in the Coconino County Jail on several felony charges once he is released from the hospital.
Authorities said Payne had taken leave as per the agency’s practice.
The incident is still under investigation, according to the CCSO.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jon Paxton DATE: July 27, 2023 PHONE: 928-226 -5089 SUBJECT: CCSO Deputies Respond to Ongoing Robbery Resulting in Lieutenant Involved in Flagstaff Shooting Arizona State: On July 27, 2023, at 3:10 am, CCSO MPs responded to a report of an ongoing robbery on Hidden Hills Road. at Donnie Park. The reporter reported that an unknown subject broke into his residence and held the subject at gunpoint. The suspect then fled the scene by jumping out of the window he had just broken into. At 3:17 a.m., police arrived at the scene. Police have confirmed the safety of the victim and launched a search for the suspect. At 3:24 a.m., the suspect was found on the west side of the residence. Sergeant Jess Payne, a veteran of the sheriff’s office for 11 years, gave verbal orders to the suspect. At first he obeyed orders. Sergeant Payne was the only deputy at the scene when he discovered the suspect. It was unclear whether the suspect was armed, so Sergeant Payne drew his weapon upon contact. When Sergeant Payne attempted to take the suspect into custody, the suspect attacked and successfully strangled him. The suspect also grabbed Sergeant Payne’s gun during the altercation. Fearing for his life, Sergeant Payne grabbed his gun and fired into the back of the aggressively attacking suspect and Sergeant Payne. The suspect was beaten once and taken into custody shortly thereafter. Paramedics were requested to respond to the scene immediately. Police at the scene applied a tourniquet to the suspect to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived. Guardian Medical Transport arrived on the scene and transported the suspect to Flagstaff Medical Center. Sergeant Payne was examined by doctors at the scene and survived with minor injuries. The suspect was later identified as Eric Adamson, a 32-year-old man from Peoria, Arizona. Once Adamson is released from Flagstaff Medical Center, he faces several felonies in the Coconino County Jail. Sergeant Payne is on leave as per agency practice. The incident is being investigated by a shooting investigation team involving multiple Northern Arizona officials. The team is made up of specially trained detectives from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and Northern Arizona University Police Department. This incident is still under investigation and no further information is available at this time.
Contributor Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, July 27, 2023
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