Sheriff calling in reinforcements in search for suspect in killing of Utah deputy

More crews to hunt for Utah fugitive

SALT LAKE CITY — More law enforcement teams were being called in Sunday to hunt down a man accused of killing a Utah sheriff’s deputy.

Scott Curley has eluded authorities for three days and was believed to be hiding in the wilderness or in communities near the Arizona-Utah line.

On Sunday, authorities asked residents in the Fredonia, Ariz., and Kanab, Utah, areas to open their homes and outbuildings to searches by officers in tactical gear.

“The owners have the right to refuse these searches without fear of consequence,” the Coconino County, Ariz., sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The main focus is to ensure community and citizen safety.”

Meanwhile, more search teams were being enlisted to replenish officers who have been working in the field, and the search command center was being moved to larger quarters at the Kanab Municipal Airport in Utah from the town hall in Fredonia, Sheriff Bill Pribil said.

“It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t want to be found,” Pribil said, according to a digital recording of a Sunday news conference provided by his department.

Kane County, Utah, Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Harris, 41, was tracking Curley, who was wanted for burglary, when he was ambushed Thursday and shot to death. Authorities say Curley shot at other police officers and missed before vanishing in the wilderness.

The U.S. Marshals Service offered a $10,000 reward Saturday for information leading to Curley’s capture.

David Gonzales, U.S. marshal for Arizona, has said he believes somebody knows where Curley is hiding.

About 100 officers were in the field Sunday, and three helicopters were aiding in the search, according to a statement from Coconino County deputies.

Officers have found no food or water caches that could sustain Curley, but have seen his footprints around the area and are trying to track them, Pribil said.

Some of Curley’s friends told authorities he may have stashed food and water in “spider holes” — caves or hiding places at the base of cliffs.

Pribil said search teams are under emotional and physical stress. Additional resources will help them get the rest they need, and no lack of police agencies have volunteered to help, he said.

“As long as we have these resources available to us, we are going to use them,” Pribil said. “There are so many times we do not have them available.”

Curley was suspected of trying to burglarize Fredonia High School and holding a janitor at gunpoint on Wednesday night.

The janitor was unharmed, and Curley avoided authorities until Thursday.

Investigators say Curley was armed with an assault rifle.

Authorities said Curley suffers from depression and has few friends. He is likely fatigued and hungry since being on the run, but is familiar with the rugged wilderness near Fredonia.

Searchers could pass 10 feet from him and never see him in hiding, Pribil said Sunday.

Police have searched abandoned buildings and used tracking dogs to find foot tracks, but those efforts haven’t panned out.

Authorities say it’s possible Curley has made it out of the region, but they are continuing the search along the border of Utah and Arizona.