Cottonwood AZ (May 9, 2018) – On May 6, 2018, just before 3 PM, deputies were dispatched to the 2300 block of Arrow Drive in Cottonwood regarding a weapons offense. Initial reports indicated a dog had been shot. At the residence, a woman told deputies a gold colored vehicle with 3 males inside approached her home. A male friend of hers was sitting in her car parked in the driveway. One of the men in the gold car had jumped out of the vehicle, brandished an apparent handgun and ordered her friend out of her car. The gold car eventually left and her friend also took off very quickly. While searching the neighborhood for her vehicle on foot, her friend found her and they returned to the Arrow Drive house. Her friend left again and had not been seen since. Deputies initiated a search for this victim.
The reporting party’s vehicle was finally located in the 2700 block of Candler Drive, Cornville, where the victim was also found. During this time, deputies located a gold vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description and conducted a traffic stop at the Black Canyon Day Use Road and Highway 260. The vehicle drove several hundred feet before finally stopping. Based on information that the occupants of the vehicle were armed, deputies conducted a high risk stop. As the deputies were giving commands, one of the passengers held a gun outside the car window and was ordered to drop it. After assisting law enforcement officers arrived, the occupants were taken into custody. The driver was identified as 21-year-old Christopher Lopez-Contreras from the Village of Oak Creek. The front seat passenger was 26-year-old Eduardo Lopez from Cottonwood and the rear seat passenger was identified as 23-year-old Christopher Brazle, also from Cottonwood.
A search of the suspect vehicle reveled over 4 grams of cocaine in a baggie on the center console. The weapon was actually a black pellet gun. Lopez attempted to conceal small baggies of drugs in his mouth. They were seized by deputies and tested positive for meth and heroin. The victim identified Lopez-Contreras as the suspect who threatened him with the gun.
During follow-up at the Arrow Drive location, it was learned the victim stuck and killed the reporting party’s dog when he initially drove away.
Deputies are still attempting to learn the relationship and motive regarding the suspects actions and the victim.
Brazle was charged with Possession of a Dangerous Drug. Lopez-Contreras was charged with Threatening, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Misconduct Involving Weapons and Unlicensed Driver. Lopez was charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs.
All suspects remain in-custody – each on a $7500 bond.
