Police chief of Cocopah Tribe involved in fatal shooting incident

Tuesday, October 29, 2013  

The police chief for the Cocopah Tribe of Arizona was involved in a fatal shooting early Saturday morning.

News reports said James Spurgeon was stabbed several times at an apartment in Yuma. A man, identified as Josh Collins, was found dead of a gunshot wound.

Authorities have not said who shot Collins, except to say that the wound was not self-inflicted. Collins allegedly attacked Spurgeon and a woman at the apartment who was identified as Angela Cochnauer.

Spurgeon reportedly has maintained some sort of relationship with Cochnauer, who works for the tribal police department. She is estranged from her husband.

In August 2012, Spurgoen left his service firearm at Cochnauer's apartment. Her six-year-old son found the gun at pointed it at his father, according to news reports from the time.

The tribe conducted an investigation but Spurgoen has remained on the job.

Get the Story:
Cocopah police chief stabbed; suspect dead (KPHO 10/28)
Cocopah Police chief involved in homicide (The Yuma Sun 10/27)
Tribal police chief seriously hurt in Yuma attack (AP 10/26)