Man charged with killing deputy now charged with burglary, faces extradition

KANAB — The man charged in Arizona with the fatal shooting of a Kane County sheriff's deputy has now been charged in Utah with aggravated burglary.

Scott Curley was charged Tuesday with aggravated burglary and criminal mischief in 6th District Court in Kanab. Curley, who had been on the run for four days from nearly 300 law enforcers searching the towns of Kanab and Fredonia, Ariz., tried breaking into a home while he was still on the loose, according to court documents.

Curley is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, a capital offense, in the shooting death of deputy Brian Harris on Aug. 26 while Harris was chasing Curley for his suspected role in a burglary and armed confrontation with a school janitor.

Curley was arrested early Monday in Kanab.

Curley was scheduled to make court appearances in Kanab Thursday for his extradition hearing to Arizona to face the murder charge and a separate hearing about his burglary charges. He made an initial appearance on his burglary charges on Tuesday. The charges against him were read, and he waived his right to counsel. However, William Leigh from Cedar City was appointed to represent him, according to court records.

Curley is currently being held on $500,000 bail in the Kane County Jail on his fugitive warrant.

A statement released Wednesday by the Coconino County Attorney's Office said Arizona and Utah authorities were working closely in Curley's case.

"We are reviewing evidence as it is compiled and documented by numerous law enforcement agencies involved in the apprehension of the suspect and the investigation of the case. We will continue to give this matter the utmost priority," says the statement.

Recently released court documents revealed pieces of new information regarding Curley's arrest in Kanab.

A homeowner reported to police that he had seen Curley on his property two days prior to when he was arrested. He witnessed Curley "peek into two separate windows of his residence," according to court documents. He saw that Curley had a rifle slung over his shoulder.

On Sunday night, about 11:20 p.m., he again spotted Curley outside his residence with a rifle slung over his shoulder, tapping his fingers on the water tank outside for several minutes, court documents stated. As a police helicopter approached, Curley tried opening the resident's door. The door was locked, however, and Curley was arrested a short time later.

Also Thursday, a viewing is scheduled for Harris in Orderville, about 30 miles north of Kanab. Harris' funeral is scheduled for Friday.

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com