WHIPPOORWILL, Ariz. - A Navajo Police Department vehicle was reported stolen from a Navajo Police officer who was checking on a vehicle parked on the side of the highway at milepost 28 on Navajo Route 4 in Whippoorwill, Ariz.

While checking on the vehicle about 3:52 am April 8, the officer made contact with three male individuals, two of whom were handcuffed and detained in the police unit. The officer was in the process of getting information from the third individual when the office heard loud noises and thereafter the vehicle was stolen.  The officer heard three shots fired from the police unit when it was taken.  The suspects were identified as Jessie Nez from Whippoorwill, Ariz. and Harold Lee, Jr. from Piñon, Ariz.

At approximately 8:40 am, the two suspects were found and arrested. The officer’s rifle was recovered. One of the suspects led officers to the location of the vehicle which was recovered about 9 miles north of Navajo Route 4 near milepost 22.

“This was an unfortunate situation. We are grateful that our officer was not harmed in the incident. Our officers have been doing an extraordinary job in carrying out the tasks at hand to not only answer calls of service, but to also oversee the public safety duties to ensure community safety during this emergency. This is an opportunity for us to remind our personnel that their primary responsibility is to be safe, so they can respond to the needs of our community.”

All suspects have been booked at the Navajo Department of Corrections. At this time, no additional details are available for release.