Law enforcement officers from several agencies returned to Montezuma Creek Wednesday, fueled by a report of a new sighting of two suspected cop-killers Tuesday night.

Navajo Tribal Police Sgt. Tyrone Benally said Wednesday that several leads indicated the suspects are now on the Navajo Reservation, but would not comment on the exact location or nature of the leads. He said about 35 tribal police officers were involved in the search, using the same tracking skills they used during last week’s search of the San Juan River near Montezuma Creek.

Alan "Monte" Pilon, 30, of Dove Creek, and Jason Wayne McVean, 26, of Durango, have eluded authorities for 41 days after allegedly shooting Cortez police officer Dale Claxton and wounding two deputies before fleeing into Cross Canyon May 29. A third suspect, Robert Mason, 26, of Durango, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he allegedly shot and wounded another deputy June 4 near Bluff, Utah.

The San Juan River separates the Navajo reservation from San Juan County, Utah, between Bluff and Montezuma Creek.

A team of 10 deputies from the Montezuma County sheriff’s office went to Montezuma Creek early Wednesday morning to assist the Navajo Tribal Police, Montezuma County Undersheriff Sam Hager said. None of the searchers had reported back as of Wednesday evening, Hager said, so he did not know specifics of the sighting or the search.

The search for Pilon and McVean had died down in mid-June but was rekindled June 28 when a 9-year-old girl reported seeing two men who matched the suspects’ descriptions trying to steal a water truck in Montezuma Creek. The men, who were reportedly wearing camouflage and carrying assault rifles, fled toward the San Juan River after the girl made a noise and startled them.

Fires set July 2 along the river failed to expose the two suspects, and control of the manhunt was turned over to the FBI on Friday. Since then, the law enforcement presence along the river has been greatly reduced.

Benally said the Navajo Tribal Police Department has received enough leads to make searchers believe the two suspects are still in the Montezuma Creek area.

Dot Graham, an FBI special agent based in Durango, would not confirm Tuesday’s sighting. Graham said that although there is a smaller tactical presence on the San Juan River, the FBI is continuing to follow up on the leads that come to them every day.