Suspect is in custody
By Jon Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
CLIFTON – The Clifton Police Department is investigating a traffic homicide that occurred around 4:57 a.m., Monday on U.S. Highway 191 in the vicinity of milepost 166. The area is at the “Horseshoe Curve” turn that leads up to Morenci.
According to Clifton Police Chief Omar Negrete, a black Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Matt Misener, 35, of Safford, was found with bullet holes. Misener was deceased at the scene. The family has been notified.
Negrete advised that a suspect has been taken into custody but advised the department is not releasing the suspect’s name at this time.
According to a co-worker, Misener was set to go to a hearing the following day regarding an attempt to regain full custody of his children.
The highway was closed to traffic from the time of the incident to roughly 10 a.m. Traffic, including school buses, was rerouted through Shannon Hill, while commercial traffic had to park and wait for the highway to be cleared.
Approximately 6,000 vehicles travel through the area every day and this is the first reported drive-by shooting on record for that area.
The Clifton Police Department has sent out a request that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the department at (928) 865-4566.
“We’re hoping to get as much information as we can,” Negrete said. “We do believe other witnesses were in the area and we ask that anyone who saw anything provide us with any information that they have.”
The Gila Herald will update this article when possible.
