TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Last weekend, several neighbors of Eagles Point Estates on Tucson’s west side agreed that it was quiet for the first time in months. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department shared its efforts to impose strict enforcement for trespassing in a popular off-roading area starting Aug. 23.
Pima County Sheriff’s Facebook Page
Amber Villareal and Jeremy Raymond contacted KGUN 9 on the weekend of August 18. They recalled that this was the second weekend in a row that they had heard gunshots coming from the desert.
They both began recording what they heard, and Amber even took her personal drone with her to get a picture for herself.
Amber Villareal
“I was fed up at that point. And showing people this through video or audio is the only way to make people understand what’s happening so they can do something about it,” she said.
She described what looked like hundreds of SUVs in the desert behind her neighborhood. Before that, she said, she heard the race and saw the dust every Sunday before she moved in.
Jeremy Raymond described the event as a “Sunday Funday” gathering. He heard vehicles traveling in the area from dusk until the early hours of Monday morning.
Like Amber Villareal, Jeremy worried about his family’s safety as gunshots became a regular sign that gatherings were underway.
“You could hear gunshots over my house,” he said. “It was very disturbing.”
One of his neighbors showed him a bullet he found on their roof before meeting KGUN 9.
“I have a bullet here that was just picked up by another neighbor. Her solar panel on the roof of her house was hit,” he said.
The neighbor told Jeremy that this had been a few years ago and that the problem had been going on for just as long.
Nevertheless, according to PCSD, the recent tightening of controls began after frequent calls at the beginning of the summer. In a statement, PCSD responded to neighbors’ concerns:
“The gatherings are not illegal per se. There is a minority of participants who engage in criminal behavior, and the Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on the illegal activities that are becoming more common…”
“…The Sheriff’s Department responds to all calls for service. We investigate and attempt to determine the circumstances. While it is not illegal to shoot in the desert, there is increasing concern that some shootings endanger people and property. Ideally, we recommend that sport shooting only take place in designated shooting areas for safety reasons…”
“…We hope that together with the community we can stop illegal activities so that the land can be used without compromising the safety of others who reside or live there.”
PCSD
Some of the land frequented by ATV riders is owned by the State Land Department. Following the recent activity, a spokesperson responded to questions from KGUN 9. According to a statement, solutions are currently being sought in collaboration with Pima County.
The State Land Department also provided:
“Off-roading on State Trust Land is permitted only in designated areas and during approved times to protect the land and ensure the safety of all users. We encourage all persons participating in off-road activities to familiarize themselves with these designated areas and to follow posted regulations, including permitted times of use. The OHV guidelines can be found Here.“
Despite the authorities’ recent efforts, Jeremy Raymond and Amber Villareal agreed that there had been quiet periods before.
“It stops temporarily, but as soon as the sheriff’s department leaves the area, they’re back where they were before,” Jeremy Raymond said.
KGUN 9 will continue to monitor enforcement efforts in this area and provide updates as the story develops.
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Reyna Preciado is a reporter for KGUN 9 and joined the KGUN 9 team in July 2022 after graduating from Arizona State University. Share your story ideas with Reyna via email [email protected] or by connecting on Instagram, or Þjórsárdalur.
