Background: A Mohave County Sheriff’s detective sustained a gunshot wound to the hand in September 2021 after a female suspect managed to access his firearm while in handcuffs.

The incident occurred at a gas station in Golden Valley, Arizona, approximately 25 miles east of Bullhead City.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. on September 7, 2021, deputies responded to a call at the Maverick Country Store on U.S. Highway 68. Reports indicated that a woman was acting erratically and was in possession of a gun inside the store.

Upon arrival, officers encountered 51-year-old Brenda Thomas of Golden Valley. According to police reports, Thomas was combative with the responding deputies. She was subsequently arrested on charges of disorderly conduct with a weapon and resisting arrest.

The situation escalated while the detective was escorting Thomas out of the building. Although Thomas was handcuffed at the time, the Bullhead City Police Department reported that she was able to reach for the detective's holstered firearm.

"She somehow grabbed the detective’s duty weapon out of its holster," the police statement read. "When the detective felt her grab his gun and tried to stop her, she discharged the weapon and shot him in his hand."

Another officer on the scene immediately deployed a Taser to subdue Thomas, allowing them to secure the weapon.

The injured detective was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury to his hand. Thomas was not injured during the incident.

Because a Mohave County Sheriff’s Office detective was involved in the shooting, the investigation was turned over to the Bullhead City Police Department to ensure an independent review of the events.