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Woman and Father Arrested After Victim Says She Was Held Underwater at Salt River

Maricopa County officials say the case underscores pressure on river safety and law enforcement during a busy holiday weekend.

Overview

  • Deputies responded to the Mud/Mudd Cliffs area of the Salt River after a 911 call about an assault on May 24 that said a woman was held underwater for about 30 seconds to one minute.
  • Court documents and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office identify 22-year-old Beyonce Burruel as the suspect who allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her under the water.
  • Beyonce Burruel was booked on charges including assault and aggravated assault to impede breathing while her 42-year-old father, Dario Burruel Jr., was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault on a first responder for allegedly pushing a deputy.
  • Deputies say it took multiple officers to restrain Beyonce Burruel, several deputies sustained non-life-threatening injuries during scuffles, and Burruel allegedly tried to kick out a patrol car door after being placed inside.
  • The arrests are part of a larger spike in Memorial Day weekend incidents at the Salt River that included two confirmed drownings and the case is now pending further criminal processing in Maricopa County Superior Court.