Two New Mexico Residents Arrested In Cottonwood For Theft Thursday

Two New Mexico residents were arrested in early August after stealing hundreds of dollars worth of cigarettes from retail stores in Cottonwood. Cottonwood Police Officers recieved multiple reports of a man and a woman driving a red sedan, and taking items from retail stores. Then on Thursday, a Sedona Police officer located the vehicle, but was unable to make a stop on the vehicle. Sedona Police shared the information with Cottonwood Police, who were later able to stop the vehicle in the Cottonwood area. During the stop, officers confirmed that the occupants were the people responsible for the crimes. The two suspects were identified as 46-year-old Eric Zelek Hoggs and 36-year-old Bettina Ann Mckinley. During a search of the vehicle, officers found evidence of the thefts as well as illegal narcotic drugs and paraphernalia. During the initial interview, both suspects gave a fake name to officers. Once officers discovered their real names, officers found that Eric Hoggs was wanted in New Mexico for theft of the vehicle he was driving. Bettina Mckinley was also wanted in New Mexico on a felony nationwide probation violation warrant. Both Hoggs and Mckinley have since been booked into the Yavapai County Detention Center on charges of organized retail theft, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal impersonation. Hoggs was also charged with an additional charge of theft of a motor vehicle.