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SWAT Arrests Attempted Murder Suspect

weimortsSedona AZ (June 1, 2014) – On May 26, 2014, just before noon, YCSO deputies were dispatched to a property on Ghost Town Road in Congress, Arizona, about a robbery that had just occurred.

The 60-year-old male victim explained to deputies that a man named Russell Weimorts, 43, robbed him at gunpoint inside his motor home. The victim had befriended Weimorts a few days earlier at a Congress area store. After Weimorts told the victim he needed a place to stay, the victim permitted Weimorts to camp out near his motor home.

While camping nearby, Weimorts earned money for performing repairs to the victim’s motor home. During the early morning hours of May 26, 2014, the victim allowed Weimorts to borrow his Honda scooter for a trip to the local grocery store. Weimorts left and the victim went back to bed, only to be awakened later by Weimorts pointing a pistol, owned by the victim, at his face.

Weimorts tied the victim with extension cords and demanded money. After Weimorts took some cash and left, the victim was able to grab his cell phone and call 911 to report a robbery. While he was on the phone, Weimorts re-entered and dispatchers heard a scuffle before the phone line was disconnected.

The victim explained that at this time, Weimorts became upset with the victim for loosening the restraints and now “hog-tied” him by restraining his hands and feet together from the back. Weimorts then placed the barrel of a gun in the victim’s ear and pulled the trigger twice. Fortunately, the gun did not fire.

Weimorts became even more aggravated, pulled the gun away, and then fired a round into a computer next to the victim’s head. Weimorts waited for a few minutes to see if law enforcement was in the area, then decided to take the victim’s scooter, along with two additional handguns and ammunition belonging to the victim, and fled.

Deputies arrived within five minutes of the 9-1-1 call, obtained suspect information from the victim, and arranged transportation to the Wickenburg Medical Center.

Due to the nature of the incident and knowing Weimorts was armed, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office SWAT was deployed to search for the suspect. SWAT deputies located the victim’s scooter a short distance away; it appeared Weimorts had crashed the scooter and was now on foot.

weimorts 2YCSO SWAT deputies began tracking the suspect’s movements and found the victim’s backpack, guns, ammo, along with some blood indicating a likelihood Weimorts had been injured in the scooter crash. Continued tracking led the SWAT team to the underside of a railroad bridge where Weimorts was hiding. He was arrested without incident during the 6:00 p.m. hour.

Weimorts was found with an apparent compound fracture to his left arm. He was transported in custody to a Phoenix area hospital for treatment and is pending booking at the Camp Verde Detention Center on numerous charges including Attempted Homicide and Robbery.

A Code Red emergency notification message was sent to area residents with information about the armed suspect in their community. Following Weimorts arrest, the community was notified that he had been found and the area was safe.

UPDATE – Russell Weimorts was on active probation. His bond is set at $150,000 and charges include Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree, Kidnapping to place in Imminent Danger, and Robbery.

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1 Comment

  1. Phoenix PD: Body found on Camelback; Unknown if it’s missing hik – CBS 5 – KPHO
    http://www.kpho.com/story/25667558/new-police-activity-seen-in-search-for-camelback-missing-hiker

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