Michael Tafoya beat his wife and forcefully drags her by the hair to his SUV in Sedona Village of Oak Creek
Sedona AZ (October 3, 2013) – On October 1, 2013, at approximately 11:15 PM, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated the report of a family fight in progress in the 100 block of Sugarloaf Street, Village of Oak Creek, Sedona. Before they arrived, YCSO deputies learned that 35-year-old Michael Tafoya had fled the scene in a dark green 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe after kidnapping his wife.
YCSO received numerous calls about the violent altercation from neighbors.
Witnesses told deputies that Tafoya assaulted his wife and dragged her from the apartment by the hair, forced her into the SUV and drove away as she fought to escape. When a 16-year-old male tried to intervene and stop the assault, Tafoya punched the teen. Deputies searched the vicinity for the suspect and the victim, but they were not located. Witnesses told deputies that earlier in the evening, the victim expressed fear Tafoya was going to “beat her up” when he returned to the Sugarloaf Street apartment. She implored her family not to let Tafoya take her from the apartment.
Tafoya and his wife reside at a home in the 4700 block of Beaver Creek Road, Rimrock.
An immediate notification to law enforcement agencies throughout the state was completed as deputies followed leads. Just before 4 AM on October 2, 2013, deputies located Tafoya’s SUV parked down the street from his Rimrock home in an apparent attempt to disassociate the vehicle from his residence. Deputies entered the home and found Tafoya hiding under a bed. They also located the victim who had sustained several visible injuries including scrapes, cuts and bruising.
Tafoya denied forcing the victim into his vehicle against her will.
Tafoya was booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Assault per Domestic Violence, Unlawful Imprisonment, Intentional Injury to Another, and Disorderly Conduct. He has since been released on a $1,000 bond.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260.
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