KANAB — In neat cursive, Shawna Harris wrote a personal note to the hundreds of officers who had spent more than four days searching for the man charged with killing her husband.
The note expressed gratitude for the "diligence and bravery" of those participating in the manhunt that resulted in the capture of Scott Curley early Monday.
"Their part in bringing to justice the killer of our hero will never be forgotten. Your sacrifices are appreciated beyond words," she wrote.
"To the Kane (County) sheriff's officers and their family members, the loss of your brother is as strong as ours."
Curley, 23, is accused of shooting and killing deputy Brian Harris in an ambush-style attack on Thursday. He is charged in Arizona with first-degree murder, a class 1 felony, and officials said Monday they may pursue the death penalty.
He was arrested about 12:50 a.m. Monday at a remote house in the Lost Spring area outside Kanab. The homeowner heard a dog bark and saw a man with a rifle over his shoulder outside the home, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office in Arizona. He called authorities about 12:20 a.m. to report someone was trying to break into his house.
"(Curley) was attempting to get into a home to, we feel, obtain some food and water," said Coconino County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll. "He was carrying a rifle the entire time."
Several tactical teams and a police helicopter responded to the area. Once police announced their presence, Curley did not try to resist arrest. Driscoll said law enforcers described him as appearing "very tired" and "cold," but he had no injuries and required no medical treatment.
"He had been up to the house and was attempting to hide," said Driscoll, who noted Curley had circled the entire house at least once. "(Police) had night vision (gear). They had a big advantage on Mr. Curley. When they made themselves known, he didn't have anywhere to go. … I don't think he knew we were coming until we were there."
Harris family members were pleased to receive word that Curley had been caught.
"It was a relief he finally decided to come in," Bert Harris, a brother, said.
"We're glad no one had to lose their life, including him," added Bonnie Harris, the deputy's mother.
The heartache, however, still remains. The family is planning to hold the funeral at noon Friday at Valley High School. A large crowd — including police officers from Utah and Arizona — is expected to attend.
At a vigil Monday night, family and friends sang Harris' favorite song, "God Bless America," while others sold shirts to benefit his family.
"Parents aren't supposed to have to bury their children," Bruce Harris, the deputy's father, told the Deseret News. "We'll get through this. We'll never get over this, but we'll get through this."
Brian Harris' children, Kirstyn, 13, and Kristina, 10, struggled at first with the news of their father's death, but with the help of friends and family they have begun to accept the situation. Bert Harris said the news of Curley's capture brightened their day because it gave the family one less thing to worry about.
One thing that has helped them cope during the past four days is their faith, family members agreed.
"And what it has taught us about why we're here and what we're supposed to do while we're here," Bruce Harris said.
Sitting outside Brian and Shawna Harris' home Monday in Mount Carmel — with flags and balloons flying high nearby — the family joked and spoke of memories of their beloved son, brother and father, who was always there when needed.
Family described Kirstyn as tall "just like her dad" and recalled a time when she announced she wanted to become a cheerleader. Her father quickly installed a basketball net. The Harrises are a family of basketball players, they explained. Brian Harris played well in high school and kept playing over the years.Brian Harris was never idle, his brothers all said.
"He was always in his shed or playing with his girls or fixing his derby car," Bert Harris said while laughing.
When Brian Harris wasn't working on his own projects, he was "helping everyone else" with their work, be it plumbing, building houses, plowing snow paths or letting people know the proper way to fly a flag proudly.
"It really bothered him to see a flag at night without a light shining or a tattered flag," Bert Harris recalled.
"And he'd let you know if it wasn't right," Bruce Harris interjected.
Kane County Sheriff LaMonte Smith said he was in bed when he got a call about 12:30 a.m. about the possible sighting of Curley. Smith called Harris' widow, Shawna, to let her know there was a possible sighting of the suspect and a 90 percent chance it was Curley.
When Smith arrived at the scene where Curley had been taken into custody, the first thing Smith thought was, "Now I can go back and tell Shawna, 'Yes, this is the individual, and he is caught.' "
Smith said Shawna Harris was "elated" and "so grateful."
Curley was being questioned Monday by investigators. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it was seeking extradition to bring Curley across the state line on a murder warrant unless he voluntarily agreed to be transported back to Arizona, where the shooting occurred.
Smith said because of the emotions within the department and the community, Curley likely would be transported to Washington County and held at the Purgatory Correctional Facility.
"I have a family to attend to, a funeral to arrange. He's just one aspect I'd like to be out of here," Smith said.
Officers hugged each other after receiving word that Curley had been arrested. "It was the first smiles I've seen in the last few days," Driscoll said.
"The effort has taken its toll on our departments, our staffing and even our communities," he said. "We've gone without sleep. We're fortunate and pleased Mr. Curley is in custody."
Over the past four days, at least 400 local, state and federal officers have swarmed the communities of Kanab and Fredonia, Ariz., looking for Curley. Police said the investigation into whether anyone had been helping Curley during the past four days was continuing.
Harris was ambushed while pursuing Curley on foot Thursday afternoon. Curley was wanted in a burglary and confrontation with a janitor at a Fredonia school the day before in which he allegedly pointed a gun at the custodian's face. Police say Curley waited under a tree for Harris to come up over a ridge and fired at least twice, striking Harris once and just missing a second officer.
Officials said Sunday they believed they had found tracks possibly belonging to Curley in the desert.
"I think this shows our tactics and strategy worked," Driscoll said. "We put pressure on him, and he had to come out of hiding."
Officials declined comment on whether drugs may have played a role in Curley's actions.
The U.S. Marshal's Office offered a $10,000 reward for anyone with information that would lead to Curley's capture and arrest. Officials confirmed Monday that the homeowner who called the command center is eligible for the reward.
A Fredonia resident who runs the Radio Shack in Kanab, Debra Judd, said the past few days have been horrifying and she's glad they're over.
"We've just stayed indoors, kids too, and locked the doors," she said Monday. "When we saw they moved the command center from Fredonia to Kanab, we were worried we'd be left with less protection, but I understand why they did it."
She said Scott Curley's step-father told her his stepson had come back home after allegedly threatening the school custodian Wednesday night and he tried to convince him to turn himself over to police. Instead, Scott Curley took off.
"Now he wishes he would've tackled the kid and prevented a deputy from being killed," Judd said Monday. "But you can't put yourself through that. You can't coulda, woulda, shoulda."
When Flor Maria Betancourt heard the news that Curley had been caught, she was overjoyed — for both the Harris family and Curley's parents.
"I'm happy because he can face the damage he's done," Betancourt said. "I cried last night at the vigil when I heard the Harrises say they love the Curley family."
She said the Curleys have been struggling the past few days but are glad to know their son is alive and well.
One thing Harris' family plans to do is finish a project the deputy and his wife had planned but never quite got the funding for: building a new house. The one they lived in was built in the 1910s, and family members laughed while describing how Brian Harris had gone up to fix the roof last winter and his leg fell straight through.
"And he's over 6 feet tall — you can just imagine," his mom said while laughing.
The family has already received calls from community members and contractors wanting to start the project — many offering their time, supplies and already organizing a fund.
"The sad thing is Brian wanted to tear this house down himself," another brother, Blair Harris, said.
As the deputy's father talked about plans for the new home, he stumbled over his words a few times, talking about the future as if Brian Harris would be there, and then the father would correct himself.
"It still isn't clear all the time Brian won't be a part of that," he said, holding himself together.Bonnie Harris said the community has joined together to help and support their family during this time.
"They've been bringing in so much food the last few days, we actually had to tell them to stop," she said with a smile.
Residents from Cedar Mountain — where family members plan to build the new home — have organized a benefit for the Harris family on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Duck Creek Dance Hall in Duck Creek Village. Raffles will be held all day, and a live band will perform at night.
A fund has also been set up at the State Bank of Southern Utah and another at Zion's Bank.
"You think you have your emotions under control," Bert Harris said, describing the last few days. "And then one of the deputies come by. They're suffering too; they just lost a brother. The floodgates open again."
Contributing: Aaron Falk, Pat Reavy
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