Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, Colorado City, Golden Valley, Fort Mohave, Mohave Valley, Littlefield, Beaver Dam, Meadview, Chloride, Topock, Yucca
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.
On Saturday (3/9) at approximately 9:24 PM, deputies were driving in the area of Highway 95 and Joy Ln. when they observed a red SUV travelling over the posted speed limit and weaving in between lanes of traffic.
Deputies initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued on until eventually coming to a stop in the area of Highway 95 and La Entrada Rd. Deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Garibay, and a female passenger and advised him of the reason for the stop. Garibay provided his drivers license to the deputy and a records check revealed the active warrant.
When the deputy reapproached the vehicle, Garibay was advised he was going to be placed under arrest for his warrant. The deputy asked Garibay to step out of the vehicle and Garibay did not comply, asking why he was being placed under arrest. When the deputy attempted to remove Garibay from the vehicle, Garibay accelerated the vehicle forward, dragging the deputy approximately 10 feet alongside the vehicle. The deputy was able to remove his arm from the vehicle and alerted responding deputies of the fleeing vehicle.
Responding deputies observed the vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed and using the shoulder to pass other vehicles on Highway 95. In the area of Highway 95 and El Rodeo Rd., deputies observed the vehicle lose control and flip, eventually coming to rest on its roof. As deputies approached the vehicle, they observed Garibay fleeing into the desert. A foot pursuit ensued and eventually ended with Garibay being taken into custody without further incident.
Deputies returned to the scene of the collision and made contact with the female passenger, who received minor injuries and declined medical attention. Garibay was evaluated by medical staff, and once cleared was transported to the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility in Kingman.
