Gila County Attorney Bradley D. Beauchamp announced that on Oct. 4, 2021 defendant Perry Roy Tonto, 30, was sentenced to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, pursuant to a stipulated plea agreement. According to the Gila County Superior Court calendar, the case was heard by Judge Bryan B. Chambers.

On Aug. 27, 2021, the Globe Police Department received a report of an intoxicated and armed subject

in the back yard of a private residence. Police also received a call from a female acquaintance of Tonto who had dropped him off at a nearby McDonald’s, and who said Tonto stated he hoped an officer would stop him so he could shoot the officer.

Globe Police Sergeant Devin Meintzer and Gila County Sheriff’s Office Commander Travis Baxley responded and encountered the defendant behind a storage shed at the intersection of East Lindsay Drive and Century Drive. After officers yelled several commands for Tonto to drop his weapon, he came out from behind the shed and opened fire at the officers, who returned fire. Sgt. Meintzer was hit in the leg by one of the shots, and Tonto was hit by the return fire. Both Tonto and the officer were immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses corroborated the officers’ statements.

Due to a Globe police officer being a victim and the serious nature of the case, the Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation.