Sedona police arrested Erica Ann Montgomery, 48, on Friday, May 30, who had been found guilty the day before of assaulting a Sedona police officer with a crowbar after a traffic stop in November 2023.
A Yavapai County jury had found Montgomery guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument against a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and one count of resisting arrest, according to Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane.
Montgomery skipped out on the last day of the trial, when she was due to be taken into custody following her conviction. The Yavapai County Superior Court issued a nationwide extradition warrant for Montgomery’s failure to appear on Thursday, May 29.
Sedona police conducted surveillance at multiple locations in an attempt to apprehend Montgomery, eventually locating her in a vehicle traveling on W. State Route 89A on the afternoon of Friday, May 30.
Sedona police initiated a traffic stop at State Route 89A and Stutz Bearcat Drive, arrested her on the warrant and transported her to the Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde.
Montgomery’s sentencing will be before Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Krista M. Carman, and she is facing 10.5 to 21 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument against a peace officer, and up to 6.5 years in prison for the remaining charges.
Aggravated Assault on Officer on Nov. 3, 2023
Sedona Officer Jesse Santos pulled over Montgomery on Nov. 3, 2023, for running a red light, expired registration and a suspended license.
As Santos was asking for information, Montgomery was uncooperative and was reaching around her seat. Santos asked her to step out of the vehicle for his safety so he could safely remove the suspended license plate from the vehicle, pursuant to Arizona state law, at which time she attempted to lock her door and roll up the window. Montgomery became verbally aggressive.
Santos “then opened the door and began to remove her from the vehicle, at which time she struck the office in the head with a crowbar,” according to the Nov. 3, 2023, Sedona police report.
According to McGrane’s statement on May 29, “A struggle ensued and Montgomery punched the officer several times in the chest. Montgomery then struck the officer in the head with a hard metal object, and also injured another officer who arrived to assist. A crowbar was found on the ground next to Montgomery’s car, where it apparently fell out during the struggle.”
Santos suffered a concussion from the blow to his head. Montgomery was arrested and taken to the Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde.
Following the verdict, McGrane commended the Sedona Police Department for the investigation and thanked the jury for their attention to the facts. Several Sedona police officers were at court this week, testifying in the trial.
“Police officers go to work every day with the goal of keeping their communities safe, McGrane stated. “Just like all of us who call Yavapai County home, police officers have a right not to be assaulted. They do not leave their families and go to work with the expectation of being attacked. I hope the lengthy prison sentence that Ms. Montgomery will receive will deter others who think it is OK to assault a police officer or anyone else.”
McGrane also commended prosecutor Matthew Polk for his work in preparing and presenting the case for trial.
