On February 12, 2025 at about 8:00 AM the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service reporting that a drone was being flown over the Pinyon Plain Mine, a critical infrastructure off Highway 64 south of Tusayan. While Deputies from the Williams/Grand Canyon District were responding, they were advised the drone had crashed into the safety wires used to transport people in and out of the mine. After the crash the person suspected of operating the drone fled in what was described as a silver Ford F150.
The same vehicle was witnessed a short time later driving recklessly towards the town of Tusayan. Shortly thereafter, another report came in of the suspect vehicle having struck a vehicle in the town of Tusayan and fled on Hwy 64 towards the Grand Canyon National Park. A short time later Deputies were advised of another hit and run incident within the Grand Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon National Park Rangers located the suspect vehicle wrecked into the forest near the Desert View Entrance to the Grand Canyon.
The driver, identified as Bobby Mason of Lukachukai, AZ, will be booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for multiple counts to include Aggravated DUI, Criminal Damage, Hit and Run, Reckless Driving, Harassment, Unlawful Operation of Model or Unmanned Aircraft as well as several outstanding warrants.
