PHOENIX — The hunt for the man accused of shooting a Phoenix police officer last week is over.
The suspect, 35-year-old Nicholas Cowan, was arrested on Sunday during an hours-long standoff near 66th Place and Osborne in Scottsdale, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) said.
Police say they received several tips that helped lead officers to the home where multiple people were arrested, including one of Cowan's girlfriends who helped him after he was injured.
“There was a point where we may have exhausted what we knew, and this tip led us to exactly what we needed, which was the arrest of Cowan,” Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said.
While officers worked to get Cowan into custody, Wendy Cruz was among neighbors watching from their homes.
“It was super scary,” Cruz said.
Cruz said she watched for hours as officers were on the scene. At one point, Cruz saw officers using a SWAT vehicle to break down the exterior wall of the unit that Cowan was in.
Police tell 12 News, while no shots were fired by either Cowan or officers Sunday evening during the standoff if Cowan threw anything at officers is part of the investigation.
“That's super scary to even know he was right there. He was right there all this time. I don't know how long he's been there, how long he'd been coming in and out,” Cruz said.
Phoenix police said they’re investigating how long Cowan was at the location, believed to be short-term rentals before police arrived to get him into custody.
The girlfriend, identified as 34-year-old Nicole Montalbano, was arrested on numerous charges and was booked into Maricopa County's Estrella Jail.
The search was sparked on Thursday after police were called out to a domestic violence situation near Cave Creek and Beardsley roads.
A woman called 911 and asked to meet police at a gas station because she was afraid of a confrontation with Cowan, the department said.
The woman claimed Cowan had attempted to commit suicide and threatened to shoot officers if she called the police.
While officers were speaking to the woman, police say Cowan arrived at the gas station in a vehicle.
At that point, an officer walked toward Cowan and say he fired a handgun from inside his Toyota Prius, striking the officer. Multiple officers returned fired at the Toyota.
After Cowan was arrested, it was discovered that he had been wounded. Police say he ditched the car and was helped by multiple people until his arrest.
The injured officer was transported to a local hospital where she underwent surgery and is recovering. As of Sunday, the officer remains in intensive care but is stable.
A manhunt across the Valley ensued after that and the search was assisted by the FBI.
There was a $35,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Hombre acusado de dispararle a un oficial de policía de Phoenix, fue arrestado después de un enfrentamiento
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