Gary M. Restaino, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Keanu Rudy Dude, a 25-year-old resident of San Carlos, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, has been arrested following an indictment by a federal grand jury in Phoenix. He faces charges of arson related to the Watch Fire that occurred in July 2024 on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.
The fire resulted in over 2,000 acres of tribal land being burned. According to the indictment, twenty-one homes were destroyed, and four hundred families had to evacuate from their residences and nearby areas around San Carlos. Dude is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Monday, February 24, 2025.
It is important to note that an indictment serves as an allegation of criminal conduct and does not constitute evidence. Individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and local authorities such as the San Carlos Apache Police and Fire Departments along with the San Carlos Ranger and Forestry Departments. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Phoenix will handle prosecution efforts.
For further details about this case or other activities by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, visit their official website or follow them on social media platforms.
