Photo: Trailer in Black Canyon City destroyed by fire

Father and Son Suspected of Shooting Nearly 50 Rounds at a Neighbor

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies on the evening of April 18 responded to a report of someone shooting multiple rounds at a structure in the Breezy Pines community, southeast of Prescott. The reporting party started hearing the gunshots following a confrontation with his neighbor and son over their alleged reckless driving of a side-by-side.

Deputies spoke with the concerned neighbors, and they pointed out the residence where it was believed the gunshots originated. As deputies approached the home, the resident came out but denied firing any weapons. Deputies detained the man, Dennis Gherman, 42, of Mayer and his 19-year-old son, Devon, and collected several firearms from the home.

Deputies also found 46 spent ammunition casings where the man was seen yelling at his neighbor. The father and son were each arrested on felony counts of Reckless Discharge of a Weapon and Endangerment. The son, when booked into jail, was also charged with a felony Contraband count. No one was hurt in the incident.

Trailer Destroyed by Fire; Two Pets Killed

Just before 4am on Saturday, April 20, deputies responded to a call of a trailer on fire in Black Canyon City. Upon arrival, fire crews were fighting active flames towards the rear and one side of the trailer. The 35-year-old resident, his mother and his son were able to escape safely with one of their dogs. Unfortunately, two other pets perished in the blaze.

The owner of the trailer stated he had been working on projects around the structure earlier in the day and had left his saw plugged in. While sleeping, he woke to a loud pop and thought someone was knocking on the door or throwing rocks outside. He went to look and realized the trailer was on fire near the breaker box and alerted his family members. The residence on Ha Wa Si Trail was a total loss. Daisy Mountain FD is doing the investigation into the exact cause.

Father Kidnaps Kids and Takes Them into the Desert Barefoot

Also Saturday morning, Wickenburg Police (WPD) served 47-year-old Rodney Kirby with an order issued by Maricopa County Superior Court barring him from his family’s residence in Wickenburg and prohibiting any contact with his wife and two juvenile children. A few hours later, WPD got a call stating that Rodney had taken the kids by force from the mother and was headed to the Congress area. They requested YCSO assistance and said the man was armed and dangerous.

WPD discovered Kirby had swapped vehicles with a friend and still had the kids with him somewhere in Congress. Deputies discovered the vehicle parked on Henderson Street, and while canvassing the area, found neighbors who saw the suspect park the car and begin walking with the children.

YCSO located Kirby, the two children, and Tammy Alvarez, a suspected accomplice, walking westbound on HWY 71 on the edge of town. Kirby and Alvarez were arrested without incident. The two boys were reported to be safe and healthy, though they had walked quite a distance through the desert without shoes on their feet.

Dirt Bike Accident Severely Injures Teenage Girl

The afternoon of April 20, YCSO responded to a report of an accident with injuries on the Enchanted Forest Trail in Walker, east of Prescott. Deputies arrived to find a 15-year-old girl had been operating a Coleman pit-bike on an unpaved road when she crashed and suffered a serious head injury.

The girl was riding on the trail, along with her father on another motorbike, but she was not wearing a helmet nor eye protection. She reportedly hit a bump in the road, which bucked her out of her seat and caused the bike to spill over, and she was thrown about 5 feet, hitting her head directly on the hard ground.

Medical assistance arrived and transported her to the Walker Fire Department where a Native Air ambulance waited to transport her to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Throughout the incident, the young lady lost consciousness, began seizing, and was bleeding severely. Eventually, she was said to be alert and able to speak to first responders and was awake and conscious when loaded onto the helicopter. She has since reportedly been released from the hospital.

Woman Charged with Child Abuse for Using Meth While Pregnant

Continuing the busy Saturday, YCSO deputies stopped a vehicle in Spring Valley on suspicion of DUI.  Deputies subsequently found a baggie of methamphetamine under a sun visor but both parties denied it was theirs.  37-year-old Dewey Cook Jr of Mayer, and his passenger, 24-year-old Athena Cummings of Cordes. Both occupants later tested positive for both methamphetamine and amphetamine. Cummings told deputies she is four months pregnant, so she was booked on felony counts of Child Abuse and Endangerment. Both Cook and Cummings were charged with two felony drug and paraphernalia counts as well.