Cottonwood Man Sentenced To Over 20 Years In Prison After Shooting A Police Officer In 2020

A man who once shot a Cottonwood Police officer will spend over 20 years in prison. Back in September, a Yavapai County jury found 59-year-old Jeffrey John Thomas guilty of attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, discharge of a firearm at a structure, and disorderly conduct with a weapon. Police were called to the area of East Birch and South 15th Street at around 7:22 a.m. back on May 6th 2020 on a report of a man demonstrating erratic behavior and threatening others with physical violence. The man was identified as Thomas. Police tried to get Thomas to exit his house and he refused. They then decided to try and contact him later in the day. At around 7:45 p.m., officers were called back to the house on a report of a man charging at vehicles as they passed by him. Officers arrived and said he was holding a flagpole. After a short chase, Thomas made statements that they were there to kill him. The flagpole ended up being a shotgun and he shot one of the officers in his left arm. Based on Thomas’ actions it was believed he was attempting to ambush arriving officers. The officer shot suffered non-life threatening injuries. Thomas was sentenced to 20-and-a-half years in prison Thursday.