2 more people arrested for allegedly helping Phoenix shooting suspect evade police

PHOENIX – Two more people have been arrested for allegedly helping Nicholas Cowan evade police while he was wanted in the shooting of a Phoenix officer earlier this month, authorities said Thursday.

Caroline Coster, 35, and Michael Hankins, 41, were booked into jail for their roles in the case on Wednesday, the Phoenix Police Department announced.

Three people have now been charged with helping Cowan while he was on the run.

Cowan is accused of shooting from a car at two officers who were responding to a domestic violence call outside a Phoenix gas station, hitting one, on April 14. He was struck by return fire but fled the scene.

He remained on the loose until he was spotted at rental property in Scottsdale on April 17 and taken into custody after an hourslong standoff.

Hankins was booked for hindering prosecution, according to court documents. He allegedly let Cowan stay at his home April 14-15 before paying to rent the Airbnb location where Cowan was arrested. Hankins also had two felony warrants out for his arrest.

Details about Coster’s involvement weren’t immediately available.

On April 16, 34-year-old Nicole Rose Montalbano was arrested after a search warrant was served at her residence in Prescott Valley. Montalbano, referred to in court documents as a girlfriend of Cowan, was booked into a Phoenix jail on counts of hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

Cowan was hospitalized after his arrest. He was discharged Monday night and taken to jail, but he was returned to the hospital for monitoring Tuesday morning before the booking process was completed.

The wounded officer is a 24-year veteran of the force. She underwent surgery after the shooting and as of Thursday was recovering in a rehabilitation center, police said.

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