On September 29, 2025, Boise Police Department issued an Officer Safety BOLO on a wanted person. On October 5, 2025, at approximately 4:59 PM, Idaho County Dispatch received information that the wanted subject was in the local area.
Idaho County deputies responded and located the individual barricaded inside a camper on Church Street in Cottonwood, Idaho. Due to the heightened risk, the Idaho State Police (ISP) SWAT team was requested and responded to assist.
While law enforcement personnel attempted to contact the subject, the individual sustained a self-inflicted injury. He was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood and subsequently airlifted via Life Flight to Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene for further treatment.
Eric Wright, age 42, of Kalispell, MT, was arrested on multiple felony Whitman County warrants out of Washington.
This arrest demonstrates multi-agency cooperation to apprehend wanted fugitives and protect community safety. No law enforcement officers were injured during the operation.
The incident remains under investigation.
We would like to thank the Idaho State Police, Cottonwood Police Department, City of Cottonwood, St. Mary's Hospital & Ambulance, Life Flight and the FBI for their assistance with this incident.
This post provides information about Idaho County Sheriff's Office activities that serve legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes. The charges listed are allegations at the time of arrest. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Current case status and final dispositions are available through Idaho Supreme Court's public records at https://portal-idaho.tylertech.cloud/odysseyportal/Home/Dashboard/29. Victims can sign up for custody notifications at https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/initMap.do.
See below for further information on the incident from Cottonwood Police Chief Terry Cochran.
From the Police Chief
As many are aware by now, there was a rather intense standoff with one subject at St Mary’s Church in Cottonwood on October 5, 2025.  Idaho County has sent out a press release on this event, and is the lead agency in this case.  Following the Incident Command protocols, I would be amiss to put out specific information regarding the subject, or the incident details for this case without going through the lead agency, and I won't do that.
What I would like to talk about is the events specific to Cottonwood, and the actions many folks took to support this incident.  
Obviously, Cottonwood PD was not the first agency on scene.  However, we did have a vested interest in exactly how this scene would progress, and the safety of our community, all the officers involved as well as the involved subject.
 I initially met with the Operations Sergeant for Idaho County Sheriff's Office and we made a plan, together, for the safety of all.  A call was made to inform the Mayor, who responded and remained with Cottonwood Police Department either on scene, or as we were doing assorted related tasks throughout the event until its conclusion.  That says a LOT for Mayor Holcomb to put on a bullet proof vest, and stay to help out and support his community throughout the night.
There were concerns for the safety of the traveling public.  A call was made to Cottonwood Maintenance Mac  and Hunter to have them assist in closing King Street as well as all the side streets in the area.  These two guys responded amazingly, in the late night, to ensure that all the streets were closed, resulting in even having Mac's wife help shuttle him around to accomplish the mission.  They also were able to bring the Community Response Vehicle to the scene to be used as a command post.
 Your City Clerk, Lynn was notified that we would be opening the community hall to allow for a planning area for the responding ISP SWAT team, and locating assorted maps and support for that effort.
 Father Paul was contacted and responded to the church to open it up to allow bathrooms for all of the law enforcement personnel, as this event progressed through the night.  He also was able to shut off requested lights to provide for safety for the officers.
Lighting equipment was borrowed from Cottonwood Fire Department throughout the night to provide lighting for the officers.  One firefighter even donated his time and vehicle to assist in initially blocking King Street, because he saw that we needed help.
As noted on the Idaho County press release, Idaho State Police SWAT personnel responded from all across the state to provide tactical expertise for the event.  Negotiators from Idaho County as well as the State were in contact with the subject throughout the event in attempts to get him to exit the vehicle.  ISP, Idaho County, and Cottonwood PD personnel were on scene most of the next day ensuring that no detail was missed during evidence collection.  Again, these events were supported in multiple ways by our maintenance folks who shuttled needed equipment back and forth.
As it was in the low 30s that night, snacks, hot coffee, and the ability to warm up became important, with officers utilizing the command vehicle or the church to warm up and keep sharp.
St Mary’s Ambulance EMTs were put on standby for the event, and they remained available, away from their families, throughout the night and positioned themselves close by to provide instant response at the end of the event.
This was a tragic event, that without the focused efforts and support from the entire community, could have been far worse.  This is truly a great community where folks will step up and help out when needed, and THAT is what makes it a great community.