Cochise County sheriff reviews recent SWAT standoff, long-running fugitive case, pit rescue and fatal Pierce crash

Sheriff Mark Daniels of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office reviewed several public-safety incidents in a Friday appearance on KWCD’s First Watch, urging people to take traffic rules and scam warnings seriously. He described a multi‑hour SWAT operation in the Hereford–Palominas area that ended without injuries, the capture of a military defendant by U.S. Marshals in Illinois after years on the run, a hoist rescue of a trespasser from the Bisbee pit and a fatal Pierce crash in which an unbelted 80‑year‑old motorist failed to stop at a stop sign. Daniels said the regional SWAT team — a joint unit including the sheriff’s office, Sierra Vista Police Department and other local agencies — responded when an individual pointed a gun and threatened others. “About three, four hours later before they took him into custody…and when he came out, nobody was hurt,” Daniels said. The sheriff also described a long-running effort to locate a military defendant wanted to return to a court‑martial. Daniels said U.S. Marshals apprehended the man in Illinois; the sheriff told listeners the defendant had been convicted in absentia in military proceedings and would be returned to face custody. “We were notified…we’ve spent a lot of resources trying to find this guy,” Daniels said. He credited the U.S. Marshals for the arrest. On a separate matter, Daniels described a nighttime incident at the Bisbee pit in which a man who had gone over a fence and walked into the pit fell and called 911. Deputies cited the man for criminal trespass and a helicopter hoisted him out after crews determined ground extraction was not feasible. “The helicopter had to get him out of there…they hoisted him out of there,” Daniels said. Daniels also recounted a fatal collision in Pierce involving an 80‑year‑old driver who, Daniels said, was not wearing a seat belt and did not stop at a stop sign. “Stop signs aren’t discretionary,” he said. “This is part of why we do this show. It’s a safety message…you have to wear your seat belt.” The sheriff warned listeners about impersonation scams that use the names of local officials and deputies. He said people have reported callers opening accounts or seeking payments in victims’ names and urged residents to hang up when asked for money. “It’s a scam,” he said. “We’re not gonna call you. We promise you we won’t call you…Don’t get off the phone. Do not hang up on the phone. When they tell you that, hang up on the phone.” Daniels also reported enforcement activity on county roads, saying deputies conducted traffic enforcement in the Wilcox area, issuing citations to try to change driving behavior. “We’ve made 345 traffic stops or 85 citations just trying to change behavior,” he said. The sheriff closed by reminding residents about community events he promoted on air, including a local high‑school homecoming game and the Cochise County Fair. Sources: remarks by Sheriff Mark Daniels during First Watch on KWCD.