At approximately 6:18 p.m., on Monday, Aug. 18, officers with the Winslow Police Department responded to a shoplifting call at Walmart, located at 700 Mike’s Pike St. At approximately 6:31 p.m., officers had located the suspect Dean Fowler, 59, on a bicycle near Maverik, located at 2110 North Park Drive. A press release issued by WPD initially stated Fowler as being 49 years old, but the family confirmed his age at 59. According to WPD, Fowler was brought to the department to be processed for booking and was placed in a holding cell before being transported to the Navajo County Jail in Holbrook where he would await trial. Fowler was to be booked for felony shoplifting for the most recent incident and other incidents on July 31 and Aug. 2, in which Fowler allegedly shoplifted and was found carrying illegal drugs. While the processing paperwork was being completed an officer went to retrieve Fowler, where he found unresponsive in the holding cell. Officers tried to revive Fowler with no success. The matter is being investigated by a regional homicide task force comprised of different law enforcement agencies in the area but WPD will not be part of the investigation. Interim Chief of Police Ernie Cano stated that detectives from Show Low Police Department went Winslow last night to investigate and will be leading the investigation going forward. Cano also stated that after the investigation is complete he will begin a second internal investigation to ensure there was no wrongdoing by officers and how the department can adapt to prevent this in the future. “This is the first time in my 18 years with the department I have seen someone pass away in custody,” Cano said. This is an active case and WPD is urging people with additional information to contact acting Lieutenant Adam Reeves at 928-289-1433.
