Deputies Accused of Defiling Indian Site
Archaeological Relics Allegedly Found in Cop's Home
Oct. 17, 2000
By Randy Dotinga
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (APBnews.com) -- Two sheriff's deputies are facing federal charges of illegally ravaging the remains of a 700-year-old Indian trading center.
John D. Price and Tony G. Mascher have been suspended from their jobs with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department, which serves a large region northwest of Phoenix. Price was arrested and jailed on Oct. 12; Mascher was not arrested but faces a court hearing.
Trouble for the deputies began May 16, when an Arizona State University student came across the deputies while they were digging at an archaeological site near Flagstaff, said Phil Berendsen, a criminal investigator with the U.S. Forest Service.
"We found significant damage to the site," Berendsen said.
Among other things, seven skeletons had been unearthed and some of their bones were strewn about, he said.
Ancient center
The site served as a trading center for the Southwest's Indian tribes around 1300, Berendsen said. The Anasazi, Hopi and Navajo tribes, among others, visited the site.
"There are a lot of influences from various locations that show up in the pottery," he said. "We've got seashell stuff, bracelets and beads. They come from the ocean, not right here in the middle of Arizona."
The site was excavated in the 1940s but apparently has not been touched extensively by professionals since, he said. However, some "pot-hunters" -- robbers -- have rummaged through the site, he said.
Authorities found archaeological relics in the homes of the two suspects, he said. Berendsen declined to speculate on the motive for defiling the site, but he did say there is a big market for archaeological relics, especially in Europe.
Cops suspended
After several months of investigations, a federal grand jury indicted the two deputies on Oct. 10.
Price has been charged with making false statements, excavating an archaeological site, possessing illegal weapons, including a machine gun, and possessing or altering a weapon with a missing serial number.
Mascher faces charges of making false statements and excavating an archaeological site.
Price could face a maximum sentence of 22 years, while Mascher could face seven years, Berendsen said.
Both men were placed on administrative leave shortly after federal officials discovered them at the archaeological site in May. They have not been fired.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Department complained that federal officials did not provide enough information for them to complete an internal investigation.
Officials at the Arizona branch of the U.S. attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
Randy Dotinga is an APBnews.com West Coast correspondent (randy.dotinga@apbnews.com).
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Skyhawk
Archaeological Relics Allegedly Found in Cop's Home
Oct. 17, 2000
By Randy Dotinga
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (APBnews.com) -- Two sheriff's deputies are facing federal charges of illegally ravaging the remains of a 700-year-old Indian trading center.
John D. Price and Tony G. Mascher have been suspended from their jobs with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department, which serves a large region northwest of Phoenix. Price was arrested and jailed on Oct. 12; Mascher was not arrested but faces a court hearing.
Trouble for the deputies began May 16, when an Arizona State University student came across the deputies while they were digging at an archaeological site near Flagstaff, said Phil Berendsen, a criminal investigator with the U.S. Forest Service.
"We found significant damage to the site," Berendsen said.
Among other things, seven skeletons had been unearthed and some of their bones were strewn about, he said.
Ancient center
The site served as a trading center for the Southwest's Indian tribes around 1300, Berendsen said. The Anasazi, Hopi and Navajo tribes, among others, visited the site.
"There are a lot of influences from various locations that show up in the pottery," he said. "We've got seashell stuff, bracelets and beads. They come from the ocean, not right here in the middle of Arizona."
The site was excavated in the 1940s but apparently has not been touched extensively by professionals since, he said. However, some "pot-hunters" -- robbers -- have rummaged through the site, he said.
Authorities found archaeological relics in the homes of the two suspects, he said. Berendsen declined to speculate on the motive for defiling the site, but he did say there is a big market for archaeological relics, especially in Europe.
Cops suspended
After several months of investigations, a federal grand jury indicted the two deputies on Oct. 10.
Price has been charged with making false statements, excavating an archaeological site, possessing illegal weapons, including a machine gun, and possessing or altering a weapon with a missing serial number.
Mascher faces charges of making false statements and excavating an archaeological site.
Price could face a maximum sentence of 22 years, while Mascher could face seven years, Berendsen said.
Both men were placed on administrative leave shortly after federal officials discovered them at the archaeological site in May. They have not been fired.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Department complained that federal officials did not provide enough information for them to complete an internal investigation.
Officials at the Arizona branch of the U.S. attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
Randy Dotinga is an APBnews.com West Coast correspondent (randy.dotinga@apbnews.com).
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Skyhawk