[pct-l] Hiker killed by cop

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<Arizona Hiker Fatal Shooting At Trail Head Following
Altercation With Dogs
May 17 2004 at 3:39 PM Payson Roundup  (Premier Login
dipper)
Forum Owner



Response to May Accident Reports 

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A confrontation between a hiker and another man at a
trailhead off Highway 87 near the Highway 260 turn
off, left one man dead Tuesday evening.
Coconino County Sheriff's Det. Scott Feagan said he
cannot release specific details on the incident
because of the ongoing investigation and deputies are
still trying to notify next of kin.
According to Feagan, a hiker coming out at the Pine
Canyon trailhead, came across another man with two
dogs.
"It appears that a hiker and an individual came across
each other," Feagan said. "The accusation by the hiker
is that he was attacked by the individual and his two
dogs."
The hiker shot and killed the alleged attacker.
"It appears, at this time, that it was self-defense,"
Feagan said. "But it will be under review by the
Coconino County Attorney's Office. They make the final
determination about whether charges will be filed."
Feagan said that at this point in the investigation,
indications are that the hiker was attacked in the
remote area, but could not elaborate.
Because detectives are still trying to locate the next
of kin, Feagan could only say the man was from Arizona
and was 43-years-old.
"The hiker is a law abiding citizen with a concealed
weapons permit," Feagan said.
After the shooting, the hiker flagged down an off-duty
forest service employee who contacted law enforcement.
The Pine-Strawberry Fire Department was first to
respond to the scene. Lt. Ray Groves said the man was
deceased when they arrived. 
The dogs were taken by the county animal control
officer.
Groves said the dogs did not appear vicious to him and
never growled or barked at rescue crews.

Please go to website for more information
http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/frontpage_lead/story/15128 >
Search word use  (hiker) or May 14 or May 24  

One of the dogs was a therapy dog that he took to
nursing homes!!!

<Deadly Az hiking conflict to go to grand jury

PETER CORBETT
The Arizona Republic


An Arizona hiking confrontation turned deadly this
month, and
investigators said the shooting death was justified.
Grant Kuenzli, 43, died 11 days ago near Payson, when
he was hiking
through the woods on Pine Canyon Trail with his dog, a
yellow
Labrador retriever named Maggie, and two other dogs, a
chow and a
German shepherd mix.

The dogs, not on leashes, ran ahead of him and
apparently startled
Harold Fish, a retiree from Phoenix, Coconino County
sheriff's
Detective Scott Feagan said.

Fish, 57, who was carrying a 10 mm semiautomatic
pistol in a holster,
felt threatened, Feagan said, and fired a warning shot
into the
ground near the dogs. Then Fish fired three shots at
Kuenzli, who was
shouting and running down the trail behind the dogs,
Feagan said.

"Our investigation leads us to believe this is a
situation of self-
defense," Feagan said. "(Fish) was under attack."

Fish could not be reached for comment.

Feagan said the chow that charged Fish has a
documented history of
aggression.

That is disputed by Larry Stubbs, Payson Humane
Society president.

Kuenzli, who volunteered at the society, had taken the
chow and
shepherd out for a hike with Maggie, a therapy dog
that he took to
senior centers, said Stubbs.

While detectives said the shooting appeared justified,
they intend to
present the case to a Coconino County grand jury.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?
page=local&story_id=052204a1_hiker_shot>