PINEDALE — A search for the weapons that were reported to be in the possession of the Utah kidnapping and assault suspect, Dereck James “DJ” Harrison (22), is being organized by the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office today, following the arrest of both Harrison and his father, Flint James Harrison (51), on Saturday, May 14.
In the early morning hours, Flint, who had fled Utah with his son following a kidnapping and assault crime in Centerville, UT, left the Half Moon Lake area where he and his son had camped, and turned himself into the Sublette County Detention Center. He then began working with authorities to help locate his son, who was reportedly armed with two knives, a .22 rifle with high capacity magazine, a .300 win mag rifle, and extra ammunition.
After an all-day search led by Sublette County officials, and in cooperation with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, Rock Springs Police Department, Green River Police Department, Utah Division of Public Safety, US Marshal’s Office and law enforcement officers from the Bridger-Teton National Forest Service, Dereck was found walking down the closed forest service road approximately 1.5 miles away from where law enforcement was manning a blockade. The search had been suspended for the night due to safety reasons, and Dereck was taken into custody by US Forest Service LEO Phelan Whitehair, with assistance by other officers on scene.
According to reports, Dereck followed all commands given by law enforcement officials and was taken into custody without incident and was not armed at the time of his arrest.
The forest service road and the Half Moon Lake campground have been reopened and officials are asking that anyone in the area that might come across these weapons to not approach or touch them, and to notify law enforcement immediately.
While the search was being conducted for Dereck, his mother, Maryann Delrymple Harrison (45), was also being booked into the Sublette County Detention Center after a warrant was issued for arrest for leaving the state of Utah against the terms of her probation. She was reported to have had $10,000 in cash with her when she was arrested.
