By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
GRAHAM COUNTY — A woman faces unlawful imprisonment and disorderly conduct charges following a high-stress domestic incident late Monday morning that spanned multiple municipalities and ended along the banks of the flooded Gila River.
Adrienne Rogue Tinney, 23, was arrested by Graham County Sheriff’s deputies on Sept. 28 after leading law enforcement on a multi-mile vehicle pursuit through rural Graham County with her ex-boyfriend and their 2-year-old child inside the vehicle.
According to Sheriff’s Office incident reports, the situation began around 10:30 a.m. when Tinney picked up her ex-boyfriend from a job site in Thatcher under the premise of wanting to talk. The victim reported that after he entered the vehicle, Tinney became distraught, began yelling, and made threats regarding his current girlfriend. When the victim asked to be returned to his vehicle parked at a local park, Tinney allegedly refused to let him out and demanded to see his girlfriend’s location.
The victim contacted 911 dispatch around 10:58 a.m., reporting that he was being held against his will inside the moving vehicle. Dispatchers advised the victim to ask Tinney to drop him off at the Graham County Sheriff’s Office to resolve the dispute with deputies. While initially agreeing to head toward the Sheriff’s Office, Tinney bypassed the facility and instead turned onto Sanchez Road, heading eastbound toward the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.
During recorded emergency calls, Tinney could be heard arguing in the background, denying that she was making threats while refusing to stop or release the passenger. As dispatchers repeatedly urged her to pull over for her safety and that of the child, Tinney refused, stating she was taking him out to the river where there was no cell phone service so they could talk without interruption.
Multiple Sheriff’s Office units responded to the area with lights and sirens. Deputies located the vehicle several miles into the Gila Box area past the first river crossing. Reports indicate Tinney drove through high river waters—reaching approximately halfway up a patrol vehicle door—at speeds around 35 mph.
The incident ended near the second river crossing when the victim grabbed the steering wheel and removed the keys from the ignition to stop the vehicle. During the struggle for control of the steering wheel, Tinney suffered a broken fingernail and bleeding hand injuries.
Deputies detained Tinney at the scene without further incident. Her 2-year-old child, who was seated unharmed in a car seat in the back, and the vehicle were released to the victim.
Tinney was evaluated for her minor hand injuries before being booked into the Graham County Jail on charges of kidnapping and disorderly conduct. She was formally charged with unlawful imprisonment during her initial court appearance on Sept. 29.
