CRIMINAL DAMAGE/CRIMINAL TRESPASSING – COLORADO CITY (ARIZONA STRIP)
 
Tom Sheahan, Mohave County Sheriff
MCSO PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2009
 
Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Richard Clarence Jessop, 37, and Thomas L Jessop, 21, both of Colorado City, Tuesday (3/3) afternoon. Richard Jessop was arrested for criminal damage, felony, and criminal trespassing, misdemeanor. Thomas Jessop was arrested for criminal trespassing, misdemeanor. Late Monday (3/2) evening, at about 11:30 p.m., dispatch informed MCSO deputies of trespassing in progress at a farm off of Airport Road. MCSO deputies contacted the reporting party.

The reporting party said that around 11:00 p.m., he observed people plowing and tilling his fields. The reporting party further said that an Officer from the Colorado City Marshal’s Office responded and he told the subjects to stop using the tractors and to leave the area. The reporting party advised that the officer questioned him about who owned the property and he informed the officer that he leased the property.

The reporting party further advised that the officer appeared to be more concerned about the court order rather than the criminal act that was taking place. The victim stated that the Colorado City Marshal’s officer failed to do their job and that’s when he called Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. During a follow-up investigation, MCSO deputies responded to the farm Tuesday (3/3) afternoon and contacted the reporting party. The reporting party estimated damage to his crops was well over $10,000.

While MCSO deputies were speaking with the reporting party, in the middle of a field, they observed two tractors enter the property and began plowing. MCSO deputies got into their patrol unit where they drove past the lead tractor and exited their vehicle. A MCSO deputy stood to the side of the oncoming tractor with his hand up in an attempt to stop the operator, but the operator refused to stop and continued traveling. The MCSO deputy got back into his patrol unit and drove past the tractor again.

The tractor came to a stop approximately 20 feet in front of the MCSO deputy where he stood motioning the operator to stop. MCSO deputies observed the second tractor as it stopped behind the lead tractor. MCSO deputies contacted the operator of the lead tractor. The operator was uncooperative and he would not identify himself or turn the engine off. The operator, later identified as Richard Jessop, continued to refuse to answer MCSO deputy’s questions.

At about 2:05 p.m., Richard Jessop was taken into custody without incident. The second tractor operator was contacted and identified as Thomas Jessop. Thomas Jessop was cited and released at the scene. Richard Jessop was transported and booked into the Mohave County Jail. The tractors were moved from the property.
 
legacy.co.mohave.az.us
Originally published March 4, 2009
 
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