Cottonwood Police Involved in Shooting, Arizona Department of Public Safety Investigating

Cottonwood AZ (April 10, 2015) – UPDATE – Video from the dashboard camera of a Cottonwood Police Department cruiser showed a close-knit Idaho family that appeared nearly invulnerable to stun guns, police batons and fists during a melee in a Walmart parking lot March 21 in which one person was killed and one officer wounded by a gunshot. 

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Cottonwood AZ (March 26, 2015) – UPDATE – On Tuesday March 24, 2015, Arizona Department of Public Safety Detectives conducting the criminal investigation of the incident, identified 21 year old Enoch Gaver as the suspect shot and killed in the altercation.

This investigation is continuing. DPS does not anticipate any further updates until the investigation is complete.

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Cottonwood AZ (March 24, 2015) – UPDATE – At approximately 10:52 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2015, Cottonwood Police (CPD) received a call from the Cottonwood Wal-Mart reporting that a female Wal-Mart employee had been assaulted in the store by multiple suspects. The employee was going into the store bathroom when she was physically shoved out of the way by one of the suspects.

When officers arrived the suspects were in the parking lot and immediately attacked the responding officers. During the altercation, one of the CPD officers, Sergeant Jeremy Daniels, received a gun shot wound to his leg. Sergeant Daniels, 31, has been with CPD for about 10 years and should make a full recovery. He is currently at the Flagstaff Medical Center.

One of suspects was shot and killed. A second suspect was shot in the abdomen. Six other suspects were eventually taken into custody including Jeramiah Gaver, 29 from Boise, Idaho. Mr. Gaver was booked on an Aggravated Assault charge. The other suspects face charges ranging from aggravated assault to attempted homicide to obstruction. A total of eight officers and another Wal-Mart employee were assaulted in the parking lot during the fight. Seven of those officers sustained minor injuries to include lacerations and bruising and in one case a twisted ankle.

During the course of the fight in the parking lot DPS believes there was a struggle for an Officer’s gun. A total of three gunshots were fired. All of that is the subject of this ongoing investigation. The wounded suspect was treated at Flagstaff Medical Center and released. He will be charged with aggravated assault.

This is a very complex case involving several officers and a number of suspects. Arizona DPS will update information as it becomes available.

Identities of Suspects involved in Cottonwood Police Incident:

Peter Gaver 55
Charges: Resisting Arrests – Means Causing Injury
Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree

Ruth Gaver 52
Charges: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting Arrest – Means Causing injury Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree

Nathan Gaver 27
Charges: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting Arrest – Means Causing injury Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree

Jeremiah Gaver 29
Charges: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting Arrest – Means Causing injury Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree

David Gaver 28
Charges: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting Arrest – Means Causing injury Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree

*the other suspect is a juvenile which DPS has not identified at this time*

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Cottonwood AZ (March 22, 2015) – At approximately 11:52 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2015, Cottonwood Police Department (CPD) received a call from the Cottonwood Wal-Mart reporting that a female Wal-Mart employee had been assaulted in the store by multiple suspects.

When officers arrived the suspects were in the parking lot and immediately attacked the responding officers. During the altercation, one of the CPD officers received a gun shot wound to his leg. One of the suspects was shot and killed. A second suspect was shot in the abdomen. Seven other suspects were eventually taken into custody. A total of eight officers and another Wal-Mart employee were assaulted in the parking lot during the fight. Seven of those officers sustained minor injuries to include lacerations and bruising.

The officer injured by the gun shot was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The 31-year-old officer has been with CPD for about 10 years and should make a full recovery.

The investigation is being handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).