On Sunday, Dec. 19, Cottonwood police responded to shots fired in the area of the 900 block of South Fourth Street. Initially officers were unable to locate anything. Officers remained in the area and were approached by woman wearing pajamas and no shoes. She ran to officers in a frantic state and made statements about someone chasing her with a gun.
She was transported to the Cottonwood police station for an interview. Officers then identified the residence from where the gunshots were fired: A home in the 1100 block of South Ocotillo Drive in Cottonwood where a domestic dispute between the woman and her boyfriend, 58-year-old Cottonwood resident Clint Ray Piper, who had allegedly threatened her with the firearm.
Piper was alleged to have physically assaulted the woman and threatened both her and a male roommate with a gun.
When officers arrived and announced at the door, Piper reportedly answered, and then slammed it shut. Officers could then hear him rack a round into a shotgun. He then stuck a shotgun out the front door.
Officers set up a perimeter around the residence and deployed Verde Valley SWAT. Piper was alleged to have made comments about shooting anyone that comes through the door.
When attempting to make this arrest, Piper came outside but continued to refuse commands. SWAT deployed a less-lethal shotgun weapon and arrested Piper without further incident.
Piper sustained minor injuries during this arrest. The roommate was located uninjured a short distance down the road and said he had fled the residence.
Cottonwood detectives conducted a search of the residence and seized several firearms to include a shotgun and discovered evidence that a firearm had been discharged inside. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Clarkdale Police Department assisted in this investigation.
Piper was booked into the Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde. He was charged with aggravated assault, threatening or intimidating and disorderly conduct with deadly weapon.
