Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, Colorado City, Golden Valley, Fort Mohave, Mohave Valley, Littlefield, Beaver Dam, Meadview, Chloride, Topock, Yucca
On Monday, February 9, 2026, during the early morning hours, the Bullhead City Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation; however, the driver refused to stop.
The vehicle allegedly reached speeds of approximately 100 mph while traveling through residential neighborhoods. The driver failed to stop at stop signs near the intersection of Ramar Road and River Gardens, continued onto Riverfront Drive, and then proceeded east on Hancock Road.
The pursuit ended in the 1700 block of Lakeside Drive in the parking lot of Smith’s Grocery Store, where the vehicle came to a stop. Two suspects were taken into custody.
This is all the information available at this time. Updates will be provided as more details are released.
Stay with Bullhead Laughlin News for continuing coverage.
BANK ROBBER ARRESTED- Bullhead City Police arrested John Adam Steiner, 37 of Bullhead City, for bank robberies he committed earlier this month.
Yesterday (1/23), the Bullhead City Police Department posted surveillance footage photographs from two recent bank robberies on social media. The male suspect and his vehicle matched a bank robbery committed on January 3rd in Bullhead City to another bank robbery committed one week later in Kingman. Mohave Silent Witness offered a joint reward of $1,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the Bullhead City and Kingman bank robber.
Shortly after the social media post, Bullhead City detectives received a tip from a citizen who reported they knew the man – identified as John Steiner – and confirmed Steiner’s truck positively matched the surveillance pictures.
As detectives were working on a search warrant, John Steiner came into the Bullhead City Police lobby to report a weapons offense at approximately 9 p.m. Steiner wanted to report that someone pointed a gun at him, accusing him that he was the “bank robber” that was posted on social media. He was taken into custody for robbery.
Detectives executed a search warrant into his truck, which he drove to the police department, and located all the clothing, including sunglasses, hat and masks, that matched what he wore during the two bank robberies. Police also found the notes he used in the bank robberies demanding money from the bank tellers.
Steiner was booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman.
SHOOTING – Bullhead City Police responded to a weapons offense in the 700 block of River Gardens Drive. Today (1/3/25) at about 4 p.m., a 36-year-old Bullhead City male had sustained gunshot wounds to his neck area, arm, knee and finger. He was transported by Bullhead City Fire paramedics to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center and was later flown to a Las Vegas, NV hospital for further treatment.
The shooter – Jack Richard Valenzuela Jr., 40 – was arrested for attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault. Valenzuela was reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim inside Valenzuela’s residence.
The investigation is ongoing.
Valenzuela will be booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman.
On Thursday, January 2 at about 1 p.m., police were dispatched to Rotary Park (2300 block of Balboa Drive) for a report of a hit and run where a 15-year-old male juvenile was struck in the pickle ball area parking lot. Through further investigation and interviews, police learned that Salazar Espinoza drove to Rotary Park to confront the 15-year-old victim regarding a previous fight the victim had with Salazar Espinoza’s younger brother. When Salazar Espinoza located him in the parking lot, he reportedly accelerated toward the victim and struck him with his vehicle.
Salazar Espinoza then left the scene while the victim was still on the ground. The victim was treated at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center for several non-life-threatening injuries.
Police located and arrested Salazar Espinoza at a family residence in the 1800 block of Artesia Drive at approximately 5 p.m. He was booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman.
Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Deputies are continuing their investigation into a fatal hit-and-run collision that occurred in Golden Valley on January 2, 2024. At approximately 7:41 PM, deputies responded to a male subject laying in the roadway at the corner of Chino Dr. and Adobe Rd. Deputies observed the victim, identified as James Douglas McDaniel, 69 of Golden Valley, was deceased on scene. The investigation was turned over to Detectives. Through the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Dehaven William Shaffer III, 19 of Golden Valley. While seeking out Shaffer for questioning, Detectives observed Shaffer’s vehicle had front- end damage consistent with the collision dynamics. During interviews, Shaffer admitted his involvement in the collision, but alleged that the collision was an accident. Shaffer was arrested and transported to the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility in Kingman, where he was booked in on charges of Manslaughter and Failure to Remain at the Scene of an Accident, both felonies. This investigation is ongoing.
