A suspect, 33-year-old Jonathan Kip Medford, who allegedly assaulted a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer Tuesday, Feb. 15, in the Forest Road 525 area was arrested in Jerome the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 16.
On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer received a complaint about someone blocking the roadway to tour Jeeps seven miles out on Forest Road 525 between Cottonwood and Sedona.
The law enforcement officer contacted two subjects, one later identified as Medford, and a 39-year-old female who was with him, at approximately 10:30 a.m. near the Palatki Heritage Site off Forest Service Road 525D. Medford was carrying a large knife in a sheath on his hip.
The couple immediately became argumentative. After Medford provided false identification, the officer attempted to handcuff him. Medford has an existing felony warrant with the Yavapai County Superior Court for theft or control of stolen property, criminal damage or defacement and failure to appear for an arrest in March 2020.
Medford refused to be detained and charged at the Forest Service officer. Medford allegedly grabbed onto the officer’s duty firearm and was trying to remove it from the holster while the officer was on the ground. After the struggle, the officer then attempted to pursue, but lost sight of Medford.
The law enforcement officer received medical care from the fire district crews that arrived on scene. The law enforcement officer’s name has not been released.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office conducted a manhunt in the area he was last seen added by officers from neighboring agencies.
Medford was found in Jerome on Wednesday afternoon and taken into custody by officers with the Jerome Police Department. Medford is now in custody of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
“I want to thank the Jerome Police Department for their swift action, which led to the apprehension of this violent criminal,” Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes said.
“For the second time in a week we have had a police officer violently attacked when responding to a call for service here in Yavapai County. We as a civilized society cannot tolerate this total disregard for the rule of law,” Rhodes said, referencing the shooting of Yavapai-Apache Police Department Sgt. Preston Brogdon near the Tunlii housing area on the Yavapai-Apache Nation on Feb. 11. Brogdon was airlifted to Deer Valley and has undergone surgery for a gunshot wound to his abdomen and hip. The suspect in that shooting, Valentin Rodriguez, 39, is the subject of another manhunt in the Camp Verde area.
“Violent crimes against others are inexcusable,” Rhodes said. “Attacks on public servants will never be tolerated. We will continue to use all resources working with all criminal justice partners to bring violent offenders to swift justice.”
If you have any information connected to this assault, contact YCSO at (928) 771-3260, or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232 or Yavapaisw.com.
