SWAT deployment in Cottonwood Ranch

Cottonwood Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of Sagebrush Way in the Cottonwood Ranch subdivision on a report of shots fired Saturday at 6 p.m. Officers contacted a person identified as Chuong Vu Dinh Phan at 110 S. Sagebrush Way. Phan initially denied involvement in the incident and officers left the area.

Shortly afterward, officers were dispatched to a 911-call from Phan's brother, who was in the residence with family members. The brother advised that Phan was firing a pistol and had done so again. Police advised Phan's brother to take the family members and leave the residence. Phan lives at the residence with his mother, brother, and brother's family.

Officers continued to hear and see Phan firing his 9-mm handgun both inside and outside of his residence. It appeared that he fired shots into the air.

Officers determined that he discharged his weapon about 30 times. Verde Valley SWAT was called in while officers advised nearby neighbors to evacuate for their safety.

SWAT contacted Phan by phone and attempted to negotiate with him without success. Officers subsequently deployed CS tear gas into the residence. Phan left the house unarmed and was taken into custody without incident.

Phan was transported to the Yavapai County jail and charged with 30 counts of discharging a weapon in or at a residence, 30 counts of recklessly discharging a firearm, and 11 counts of endangerment.

It is unclear why Phan was firing his weapon. The incident remains under investigation.