Police Officer Shot In An Exchange With A Man Chasing After Vehicles In Cottonwood

There’s new information into an officer-involved shooting Wednesday night in Cottonwood. Police were called to the area of East Birch and South 15th Street at around 7:22 a.m. on a report of a man demonstrating erratic behavior and threatening others with physical violence. The man was identified as 57-year-old Jeffrey John Thomas. A behavioral crises team was called in to assist with a mental health evaluation. 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. He was taken into custody and has been booked on attempted second degree murder, as well as other charges related to the incident and is being held on $500-thousand dollars bond. The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be okay.