Cochise County sheriff details home invasion and San Simon homicide investigation, highlights volunteers and drone pilot project

On KWCD's First Watch radio program, Sheriff Mark Danos provided updates on multiple public-safety matters in Cochise County, saying deputies are investigating an armed home invasion, pursuing a suspect in a fatal San Simon rest-area attack and piloting a federally supported drone program while recognizing volunteer teams that support search-and-rescue and community patrols.

Danos said investigators are working an armed-home-invasion case in which "four individuals wearing mask" forced entry into a residence. "We're we're coming. We're gonna find out who did this because this is something that we don't wanna make is well, okay. Well, I got away with it," he said, adding investigators currently have few leads and are continuing work on the case.

The sheriff also updated listeners on a February attack at the San Simon rest area that left a truck driver in critical condition. Danos said the victim had been on life support and "sadly, this week, he passed away." He said the sheriff's office executed a search warrant in Pennsylvania, that an indictment exists for the suspect and that investigators believe the accused fled the country; deputies are seeking to bring that person back to Cochise County to face charges.

The office is also investigating a structurally significant fire at Coronado Wineries near Wilcox that produced widely circulated photos and is under active inquiry, Danos said. Officials have not released investigative findings.

Volunteers and community programs drew repeated praise. The sheriff highlighted the Sheriff's Assist Team (SAT), a volunteer corps that conducts neighborhood watches, house checks, funeral escorts for veterans and search-and-rescue support; Danos traced the team's origin to a previous sheriff and noted John Black has led the SAT for "around 02/2010, 02/2011" and "20 years" of service. Danos said the sheriff's office works with "over a 100 volunteers" across reserve deputies and other programs.

Danos described a recent search-and-rescue recovery that received public attention: volunteers found an individual who had died in a remote area and recovered the person's dog, named Charlie, which was later reunited with family after notification of next of kin. "It's a feel good story," Danos said while noting the underlying death remains under investigation.

On community outreach and animal services, Danos noted the Tombstone Animal Shelter will hold a rabies clinic with vaccinations for $20 and microchipping available for an additional $20; vaccinations are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and chipping will continue until about noon, he said.

Danos described several interagency and training efforts. He said he hosted the Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT), a recurring meeting that brings federal and local law-enforcement leaders together, and he described a human-trafficking training for local law enforcement delivered under a no-cost grant-supported network.

On technology, Danos said Cochise County is a selected partner for a drone test-and-evaluation project that is costing the county nothing. He referenced an Arizona law that allows authorities to disable drones when they are used for criminal acts and said the program was offered to the sheriff's office as part of a national rollout: "we were picked 3,000 plus sheriff's offices, and we were picked to be the partner in this," he said, adding the systems used in the pilot are U.S.-made.

Danos also used the broadcast to reiterate traffic- and heat-safety reminders. He urged private-party vehicle buyers to obtain temporary registration through the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) online system or a three-day permit (he said that option typically costs about $5 to $10); he warned that driving with an obscured or missing temporary plate can lead to a stop. He recounted several distracted-driving incidents, including a crash caused when a driver looked down to restrain a dog and another where a driver who was texting with a small child in the car struck a pickup; the latter resulted in an arrest, Danos said. He also warned against leaving children in vehicles in high heat and said such behavior can result in criminal charges.

The sheriff closed by urging residents to follow the Cochise County Sheriff's Office on Facebook for additional updates.