Related To Story OFFICER GEORGE CORTEZ, JR. FUNERAL 8/3/07 NEWS COVERAGE Q & A WITH COMMANDER CHRIS CROCKETT |
Third Suspect Arrested In Officer's Death
POSTED: 11:10 am MST August 10,
2007
UPDATED: 5:51 pm MST August 10,
2007
PHOENIX -- A third arrest was made Thursday in the death of a Phoenix police officer killed in the line of duty.Edward Wood, 37, was charged with hindering prosecution by allegedly removing handcuffs from the man accused of shooting and killing Officer George Cortez Jr.Cortez, 23, was trying to arrest 20-year-old Edward Rose at a check cashing store in west Phoenix on July 27. Cortez had one of Rose's wrists cuffed when Rose allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Cortez in the chest.Rose and his companion, 19-year-old Norma Lopez, fled the scene.Cortez was pronounced dead at a Phoenix hospital.After the shooting, Rose went to the home of his friend, Daniel Escobedo, according to court paperwork. Wood told police he overheard Rose telling Escobedo that he had just shot and killed a police officer.Wood said he saw a handcuff on Rose's wrist, according to court paperwork.After Lopez arrived at the home, the four smoked a bowl of methamphetamine and Rose told Escobedo he needed help removing the handcuffs, according to court paperwork.Wood told police he cut the handcuffs off Rose's wrist, the paperwork shows.Police said they found a pair of 4-foot bolt cutters in Wood's home.Wood was charged with hindering prosecution.
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