11/21/23

QUICK-THINKING BY A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO ENCOUNTERED A MOUNTAIN LION WHILE HIKING WEST OF COTTONWOOD PROBABLY SAVE HIM FROM HARM.

COTTONWOOD POLICE RESPONDED TO A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE ON SATURDAY FROM THE YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REGARDING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER INVOLVING A JUVENILE HIKER. OFFICERS QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE FOREST AREA WEST OF CHUCKWALLA IN COTTONWOOD.

THE JUVENILE HIKER, DEMONSTRATING REMARKABLE CALMNESS, CONTACTED EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR HELP WHEN THE MOUNTAIN LION LINGERED IN HIS VICINITY. OFFICERS PEREZ AND SCHOEMAKER, UTILIZING THE GPS COORDINATES PROVIDED BY THE JUVENILE, EFFECTIVELY PLOTTED HIS LOCATION AND REACHED THE SCENE PRIOR TO YCSO'S ARRIVAL. THE OFFICERS FOUND THE JUVENILE UNHARMED AND SUCCESSFULLY LED HIM OUT OF THE FOREST TO SAFETY. THE JUVENILE WAS REUNITED WITH HIS MOTHER WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT.

ALTHOUGH THE MOUNTAIN LION WAS NOT DIRECTLY OBSERVED BY THE RESPONDING OFFICERS, ITS PRESENCE WAS CONSIDERED A LIKELY SCENARIO DUE TO THE JUVENILE'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA AND THE NATURE OF HIS REPORT.