Cottonwood AZ (January 31, 2021) – On January 13, 2021, around 8:45 PM, Partners Against Narcotics Trafficking, “P.A.N.T.” Detectives established probable cause to apply for and were granted a search warrant for the home of 58-year- Dean Cotton and 57-year-old Heather Collins. The home is in the 1000 block of S 5th Street, Cottonwood, AZ. where drug sales were being investigated.
Pending approval of the warrant, Cotton and Collins left the home in a white F250 pickup truck which was stopped by the Cottonwood Police Department. Both suspects were detained, and the search warrant was served at the residence. Inside the kitchen, detectives found a large quantity of methamphetamine in a drawer weighing over 28 grams. Additionally, quantities exceeding 16.5 grams were found packaged in plastic baggies in quantities routinely seen in drug sales. Also found inside the home were 250 individual ‘bindle’ baggies along with paraphernalia generally used to package drugs for sale.
In a cabinet directly beneath the drawer, detectives found a scale, several more grams of meth, and marijuana. A total of 45 grams of meth was seized.
In the master bedroom, a modified Winchester 12-gauge shotgun was located by PANT Detectives. The length of the shotgun barrel had been illegally altered to less than 18 inches, thus classifying it as a “prohibited weapon” in violation of Arizona law. Additionally, detectives seized a black Ruger LC380 handgun with a loaded magazine. In total, over 300 rounds of .380 ammunition were found.
Both were booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Weapons Offenses. Each has been released on a bond of $15,000.
