Print
Comment
Rate
Hughes recuperating from shotgun blast
By By Jon Johnson/Assistant Editor
Published on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 8:19 PM MST
Outgoing Graham County Sheriff Frank Hughes will spend the evening in the care of the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center as he continues to recuperate from being shot with a .410-gauge shotgun.
Hughes was on patrol late Monday evening when he encountered a dark blue Nissan sedan with its trunk up parked on the side of Safford/Bryce Road west of Reay Lane near Watson Wash. He told the Courier he thought the occupants, a Hispanic male and female possibly in their 20's, were in need of assistance. Undersheriff Dwayne Elders told the Courier Hughes routinely performs patrol duty at times due to a shortage of available deputies.
Hughes was confronted by the male who pointed the shotgun at his face. The two men struggled and Hughes was able to lower the barrel of the gun toward his chest as it went off.
The pellets were absorbed by the sheriff's body armor and did not penetrate him. Hughes was knocked back from the blow but was still able to return fire before striking his head and losing consciousness.
"It all happened so fast," Hughes said. "I went out to help them and bam, he was on me."
A few minutes later, a passing motorist noticed Hughes lying near his patrol vehicle around 11:40 p.m. and used the sheriff's radio to call for help. Hughes was then transported to the hospital.
He told the Courier he wanted to get up that night and go after the suspects but the doctors and his wife wouldn't let him. He said the blast knocked the wind out of him as it hit his rib cage and showed a Courier reporter a nasty bruise he has as a remembrance. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday morning and is expected to be released at that time.
This was not the first gun fight the sheriff has seen in his 30-plus years of law enforcement, but it is the first time he has been hit. He said its been a good, long career, but it is time to hang up his holster.
"It's time to retire," he said. "It's P.J.'s turn now."
Safford Detective P.J. Allred was recently elected sheriff and will begin in January. Hughes said he has known Allred for more than 20 years and is turning the office over to a worthy successor.
The Courier will continue to update Hughes' condition and the search for the suspects as new information unfolds. Anyone with information about the assailants should call the Sheriff's Office at 428-3141.
Outgoing Graham County Sheriff Frank Hughes will spend the evening in the care of the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center as he continues to recuperate from being shot with a .410-gauge shotgun.
Hughes was on patrol late Monday evening when he encountered a dark blue Nissan sedan with its trunk up parked on the side of Safford/Bryce Road west of Reay Lane near Watson Wash. He told the Courier he thought the occupants, a Hispanic male and female possibly in their 20's, were in need of assistance. Undersheriff Dwayne Elders told the Courier Hughes routinely performs patrol duty at times due to a shortage of available deputies.
Hughes was confronted by the male who pointed the shotgun at his face. The two men struggled and Hughes was able to lower the barrel of the gun toward his chest as it went off.
The pellets were absorbed by the sheriff's body armor and did not penetrate him. Hughes was knocked back from the blow but was still able to return fire before striking his head and losing consciousness.
"It all happened so fast," Hughes said. "I went out to help them and bam, he was on me."
A few minutes later, a passing motorist noticed Hughes lying near his patrol vehicle around 11:40 p.m. and used the sheriff's radio to call for help. Hughes was then transported to the hospital.
He told the Courier he wanted to get up that night and go after the suspects but the doctors and his wife wouldn't let him. He said the blast knocked the wind out of him as it hit his rib cage and showed a Courier reporter a nasty bruise he has as a remembrance. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday morning and is expected to be released at that time.
This was not the first gun fight the sheriff has seen in his 30-plus years of law enforcement, but it is the first time he has been hit. He said its been a good, long career, but it is time to hang up his holster.
"It's time to retire," he said. "It's P.J.'s turn now."
Safford Detective P.J. Allred was recently elected sheriff and will begin in January. Hughes said he has known Allred for more than 20 years and is turning the office over to a worthy successor.
The Courier will continue to update Hughes' condition and the search for the suspects as new information unfolds. Anyone with information about the assailants should call the Sheriff's Office at 428-3141.
 |
||
| Civil action sought against BP agent |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
