Desert Messenger

May 18, 2016 www.DesertMessenger.com 3 Read Desert MESSENGER ONLINE @ www.MyQuartzsite.com Lost person found DATES DEADLINE SPECIAL SUMMER EDITIONS: Wed. June 15 June 8 Wed. July 13 July 6 Wed. Aug. 10 Aug. 3 Desert Messenger Summer Publishing Schedule Call 928-916-4235 E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Note date changes! Quartzsite- On Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at approx. 6:15 p.m., Dwight Barr, age 74, drove to the Quartzsite Police Department to report his wife, identified as Elinor Joann Barr, age 80, as lost in the desert south of Quartzsite on SR 95. Officer Bab- cock spoke with Dwight Barr, who reported his wife had walked away from their camping area, located in La Posa -Tyson Wash around 2:30 p.m. Mr. Barr stated he spoke with his wife by cell phone, and she in- dicated she was lost in the desert. Mr. Barr also reported that his wife indicated she was weak and giving up. Mr. Barr continued by saying his wife did not have water with her and had been lost and walking for a while. Officer Babcock imme- diately advised dispatch of the cir- cumstances and began requesting resources for lifesaving efforts. Officers responded to the en- trance of La Posa -Tyson Wash, where a command post was set up. QPD's Detective Lancaster, Officers Weltha, Power, and Finch arrived to assist with the search for Mrs. Eli- nor Barr. Based on Mr. Barr's last known location, Officer Babcock directed officers to begin searching specific areas while waiting for in- formation from her cell phone from Verizon Wireless. During the search, Quartzsite Fire Department, American Medical Re- sponse, and the La Paz County Sher- iff's Department were requested to respond to the command post area to assist with the search for Mrs. Barr. Detective Lancaster contin- ued working with central dispatch and Verizon Wireless on obtaining updated GPS coordinates for Mrs. Barr's location. Officer Babcock entered the desert area, west of La Posa -Tyson Wash and north of the Rainbow Acres Community. A photo was provided of Mrs. Barr's location from Google Earth's GPS location from the La Paz County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Sgt. Shelly Norris. Officer Babcock was able to match the area with the photo provided. Information received indicated that Mrs. Barr was lying in a large open wash area. Assisting units arrived on scene from the La Paz County Sheriff's Office. Officer Babcock instructed the deputies to begin searching the area, northeast of Rainbow Acres. Detective Lancaster was able to communicate with Mrs. Barr by cell phone and instructed her to listen for sirens. Detective Lancaster re- quested that deputies and officers turn on their sirens in the search area. Mrs. Barr indicated she could hear sirens in the distance coming towards her location. Officer Babcock flagged down a subject driving a Jeep in the area of the wash. Officer Power contact- ed the driver, identified as off-duty Quartzsite Fire Department Mark McGee, and advised him of the cir- cumstances and the possible loca- tion of Mrs. Barr as directly ahead of them. McGee continued driving south in the wash from our location. At approximately 8:06 p.m., QFD McGee located Mrs. Barr in the wash approximately ½ mile south of the location. Mrs. Barr was trans- ported to the east side of Rainbow Acres, where Quartzsite Fire De- partment paramedics met her. Mrs. Barr refused medical treatment and was transported by Mr. Barr back to their camping location. Officer Babcock contacted Mr. Barr by telephone later in the evening and learned she was happy and thankful for all the professionalism and ser- vice of the Quartzsite Police Depart- ment, Quartzsite Fire Department, American Medical Response, and the La Paz County Sheriff's Office. He also indicated that Mrs. Barr was not injured and doing well under the care of her husband. Chief Ernie Renfro would like this to be a reminder and a caution that when hiking or walking in the des- ert, to please take along enough wa- ter, food, a charged cell phone and to always notify someone of the des- tination location and return time. It is highly suggested to walk or hike on marked and familiar routes to assist you with a safe return. Chief Ernie Renfro and QPD Of- ficers would like to thank all the above agencies for their immediate assistance and successful, safe re- covery of Mrs. Barr. Teamwork at its finest! Neighborhood Watch to meet Thurs. June 2 Quartzsite Police Chief Ernie Ren- fro invites all residents of the Town of Quartzsite to attend and discuss estab- lishing Neighborhood Watch at 6:00 PM, on THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016, at the Town of Quartzsite Com- munity Center. "The QPD would like to coordinate and establish small neighborhood groups with a representative to communicate to the police department about the activities of your neighborhood," said Renfro. He said he hopes to bring each Neighborhood Watch group together with QPD Officers and encourage oth- ers to participate in Neighborhood Watches to protect life and property." For more information contact the Office at (928) 927-4644 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share?

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