This is a press release courtesy of the Arizona Department of Public Safety

Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) detectives are investigating a shooting of a police officer that occurred in Quartzsite, Arizona in the early morning hours of May 17, 2007.  Investigators have identified Gregory Allen Cole as a suspect who is now wanted for attempted murder of a police officer in connection with the shooting and who is also the suspect of two felony warrants that are unrelated to the shooting.  Investigators have also located the missing couple’s vehicles.

The circumstances of the shooting are still being investigated, but DPS detectives, following leads from local community members in Quartzsite, have identified Gregory Allen Cole as a suspect in the shooting of Quartzsite Marshal’s Officer James Kemp.  Cole had been previously known only by his street name, “Groundhog.”  Gregory Allen Cole is identified as a white male, 6’3”, weighing approximately 275 pound with blue/green eyes.  Cole has a bald head and was last seen clean shaven. Gregory Allen Cole is at large and anyone with any information concerning him is urged to call DPS.

The whereabouts of Kenneth W. Miller and Betty Lou Japel are still unknown.  However, investigators have located the couple’s black and silver Dodge Ram pickup truck in Montana.  It is unknown how long the Dodge had been in Montana and how it got there. 

Investigators have also learned the motor home used in the shooting had a license plate on it that belonged to the couple, which was assigned to their Dodge Ram.  However, when investigators conducted a records check on the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the motor home used in the shooting, they learned the motor home was not registered to the couple, but rather owned by Gregory Allen Cole.  Furthermore, the couple’s motor home was recently located in Oregon.

As of today, DPS Detectives have the motor home used in the shooting (owned by Gregory Cole but had the couple’s license plate on it), the couple’s motor home (located in Oregon), and the couple’s Dodge pickup truck (located in Montana).  What is of interest is that Cole’s motor home is very similar to the couples’. 

Detectives have also located two photographs that confirm Cole spent time with Kenneth W. Miller and Betty Lou Japel. 

DPS, United States Marshals Office and Quartzsite Police Department have established a tip line and are urging anyone with information to call 1-877-WANTED (1-877-926-8332) or 911.