Catch 22 — Day 13: Fugitive wanted for aggravated assault on law enforcement, resisting arrest

For Day 13 of Yavapai Silent Witness’ CATCH 22 program, Yavapai County law enforcement is asking for the public’s help in locating fugitive Armando Morales.

In July of 2019, Morales went to his son’s school in Chino Valley and told the office staff he wanted to see his son, but he was not on the child’s contact list, nor did he know what grade the child was in. Morales wrote a note threatening the school staff and law enforcement and handed it to a school employee. The Chino Valley Police Department was called, and officers went to the child’s home, as they were afraid for the safety of the family after speaking to a family member on the phone.

The officers contacted Morales outside the family home in the 1000 block of El Rancho Road in Chino Valley. Morales walked away from the officers and attempted to enter the home, but the family had locked the door as Morales had threatened to kill one of the family members. Morales then kicked the door breaking the door. The officers attempted to arrest him, but he fought with them biting one officer, taking an officer to the ground and making multiple attempts to take an officer’s gun out of its holster. Both officers were later treated for lacerations and potential blood-borne pathogen exposure.

Morales was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement, three counts of threatening and intimidating, resisting arrest and criminal trespass. He was convicted and placed on probation and has since violated that probation. He is now wanted on a nationwide extraditable warrant with a $25,000 bond.

Morales is a 35-year-old Hispanic male, 5 feet 8 inches, 235 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos to include a skull on his left upper arm and a chain with a cross on his right hand. His last known address was in Chino Valley.

If you provide information that leads to Morales’ arrest, you could earn up to a $500 cash reward. To earn your reward, you must call Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232 or submit a tip at www.yavapaisw.com. All calls or tips provided to Yavapai Silent Witness will be completely anonymous.

Information provided by Yavapai Silent Witness.