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James Spurgeon, Tribal Police Chief, Involved in Shooting Death

The last time we heard about Cocopah Police Chief James Spurgeon, he'd left his gun at the Yuma home of an "acquaintance," and that gun was found by a 6-year-old kid.This weekend, Spurgeon was visiting the same woman at the same Yuma apartment complex, when they were confronted by another...
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The last time we heard about Cocopah Police Chief James Spurgeon, he'd left his gun at the Yuma home of an "acquaintance," and that gun was found by a 6-year-old kid.

This weekend, Spurgeon was visiting the same woman at the same Yuma apartment complex, when they were confronted by another man. That man wound up dead.

See also:
-Police Chief Above the Law? Ask the Man Whose Son Found the Chief's Gun

Last year, Yuma police said Spurgeon had left his gun at the apartment of Angela Cochnauer, who's also an employee of the Cocopah Police Department.

Cochnauer's 6-year-old son found the gun the next day, and pointed at his father, Cochnauer's husband at the time -- who was surprised that A.) Spurgeon left his gun at his home and B.) That Spurgeon was even in his home, and his bedroom.

This past weekend, according to the Yuma Police Department, Spurgeon and Cochnauer were at the apartment when they were confronted by a man named Josh Collins.

According to YPD spokesman, Officer Joe Franklin:

During the confrontation, both Cochnauer and Spurgeon received blunt force trauma to the head. Spurgeon also received multiple stab wounds. Both were transported to YRMC with serious injuries.

Collins was found deceased at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. The gunshot wound does not appear to be self inflicted. There are no outstanding suspects at this time.
Levi Cochnauer, Angela's estranged husband, tells New Times his boys were at the apartment during this incident, too, and he had to go pick them up at 3 a.m. on Saturday.

He adds that from what he understands, Collins is Angela's new boyfriend.

Levi Cochnauer spoke with us last year, after his son found the gun in their apartment, and was (rightfully) upset that there were no charges filed against Spurgeon -- a decision made by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

According to Yuma's paper of record, the Sun, the Cocopah Indian Tribe fired Spurgeon.

Levi Cochnauer seems more concerned about the safety of his boys at this point.

"This is the second time," he says. "I don't see my boys being lucky a third time."

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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.


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