At 6:45 p.m. Saturday, the sexual assault was reported to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and a ground and air search began, but the suspect has so far escaped arrest.
According to Coconino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson John Paxton, the suspect took the 16-year-old girl on a UTV at the Cinder Hills OHV Recreation Area. When her little girl returned to her family, she said she was sexually assaulted.
At that point, Paxton said, the family confronted the suspect and the suspect fled on foot. But a representative said he could not confirm whether the suspect was armed.
A DPS Ranger helicopter was called in Saturday to search the suspect from above. A search is ongoing, according to Paxton.
Sierra Ferguson can be reached at sierra.ferguson@lee.net.
