Man who police say shot an Arizona officer has been captured. Well, at least his body has been.

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Man who police say shot an Arizona officer has been captured. Well, at least his body has been.

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CAMP VERDE, AZ – The body of the man wanted for shooting a Yavapai-Apache Police Sergeant has been recovered from the Verde River following a month-long manhunt.

The Yavapai-Apache Police Department responded to a shots fired call in Camp Verde at about 7:30 p.m. on February 9. Upon arrival, 39-year-old Valentin Rodriguez exited his vehicle and fled from officers on foot. As he fled, he fired shots at the officers.

Rodriguez continued fleeing on foot and eluded capture.

One of the shots fired by the suspect struck Yavapai-Apache Police Sgt. Preston Brogdon in the abdomen near the Tunlii housing area. The bullet entered below his bullet-proof vest, went through his duty belt, shattered his pelvis and hip, and was lodged inside his body.

Sgt. Brogdon was airlifted to Deer Valley Medical Center after being shot and was initially reported to be in critical condition. Preston’s wife later recalled that his injuries were so serious that doctors would not allow her to see him before the first of several surgeries.

Bailey Brogdon said her husband’s service in the Marines made him a fighter:

“They told me that he was telling them to ‘Let Bailey know, be with her,’ and that he was saying, ‘I’m going to kill him.’ So that was comforting that he was still quite there during all of it.

“He is definitely a warrior spirit. He is a Marine through and through. I 100% believe his Marine Corps training, that mindset, carried over from the military and helped save his life.”

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Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Rodriquez, charging him with assaulting two tribal officers and discharging a firearm in a violent crime. The FBI offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspect.

On February 25, the FBI released video reportedly showing Rodriguez in a Camp Verde convenience store just hours before the shooting. The suspect was caught on security camera footage while waiting in line at Market Place Conoco, about a half mile from the site of the shooting.

On February 26, officials announced that the body of a Hispanic male was pulled from the Verde River suspected to be Rodriguez. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the recovery:

“The body of a Hispanic male was found in the Verde River near the Tunlii crossing this afternoon and is believed to be 39-year-old Valentin Rodriguez. Rodriguez was wanted as a suspect in the shooting of Yavapai-Apache Police Sergeant Preston Brogdon on February 9, 2022.

“At approximately 4pm this afternoon, a father and son fishing near the scene saw a body in the river and contacted 911. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office, Yavapai-Apache Police Department and the FBI responded to the scene.”

On March 3, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed the body recovered was Rodriguez:

“An autopsy confirmed the identity of the body, found Feb. 26, 2022, in the Verde River near the Tunlii Crossing, as that of Valentin Rodriguez, the suspect wanted in the Feb. 9 shooting of Yavapai-Apache Police Sgt. Preston Brogdon.

“The official Medical Examiner reports are still pending, and the FBI is continuing its investigation. No further details are available at this time.”

No cause of death has been announced.

Sgt. Brogdon has served in the department for five years. In addition to his wife, he has four children at home between one and six years old. Bailey said the family is strong:

“The 6-year-old knows what happened. She cried a little, but she knows her dad is strong and loves her, and that he’s going to come home.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation can send checks, money orders/cashier’s checks or bring cash to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. All checks must be made out to YCSO Employee Fund with Benevolence Fund: In Honor of Officer Brogdon written on the memo line. These funds can be mailed to or brought to 255 E. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ 86301.

In addition, donations can be made to a GoFundMe page set up for the Sergeant. The site has raised $14,585 toward a goal of $25,000.

On the donation site, Bailey updated her husband’s condition:

“Preston has FINALLY graduated from the ICU!!! He has been moved to ortho for the remainder of his hospital stay, which will be another week. They are planning a nerve block to help manage the pain from his hip and pelvis. Hopefully, that gets done tomorrow.

“My husband has continued to show incredible strength and determination to heal! Now that he is awake, and his mind is clearing, he is able to help in the upcoming decisions about his extended care.”

Man who police say shot an Arizona officer has been captured. Well, at least his body has been.

WASHINGTON, DC – Following the recent shooting death of a Harris County Deputy Constable and NYPD officer, a Metropolitan Police Officer in Washington, DC has been shot.

Thankfully, the injuries he received were considered non-life-threatening.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Director Kristen Metzger reported that officers noticed a man was acting unusual on the 1400 block of Quincy, which caused them to approach him.

As the officers were walking towards the unidentified suspect, he allegedly pulled a gun and fired several rounds, striking one of the officers who did not return fire.

The suspect fled the area on foot with MPD officers giving chase where he allegedly fled into a building in the area. The MPD’s SWAT team was activated and cleared the building without finding the suspect.

The injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released. MPD released the following statement on Twitter:

“The Fourth District officer that was shot in the line of duty tonight was treated and released from the hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank him for his courageous efforts.”

The Metropolitan Police Department is not releasing many details on this active investigation. However, they are requesting anyone with information to please contact them immediately.

This shooting comes on the heels of another one in Harris County, Texas, where a deputy Constable was shot and killed before he was even able to get out of his vehicle after stopping a car.

That incident occurred in the early morning hours of January 23rd after Harris County Precinct 5 Corporal Charles Galloway pulled over a Toyota for an unknown violation.

When both vehicles stopped, a younger hispanic man exited his vehicle and began firing on Corporal Galloway before he could even exit his car. After the shooting, the suspect got back into his car and fled the area as Corporal Galloway sat dying in his patrol vehicle.

The suspect, in that case, has yet to be identified.

Before Corporal Galloway lost his life, officers from the New York Police Department responded to a domestic situation on January 21st in Harlem.

While the officers were attempting to talk to the male half of the situation, the suspect, identified as Lashawn McNeil, jumped out of a bedroom and opened fire, striking and killing NYPD Officer Jason Rivera and critically wounding NYPD Officer Wilber Mora.

A third officer who was on the scene returned fire after getting McNeil’s mother out of harm’s way. McNeil was struck twice, once in the head and arm. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

These attacks come as the National Fraternal Order of Police showed ambush-style attacks on police officers increased throughout 2021 by 126 percent over 2020. While the cause of the increase is debatable, one fact is not, there is continuing to be an increase in law enforcement officers killed nationwide.

In 2021, the county saw a total of 458 police officers killed in the line of duty which makes it the deadliest since 1930 which saw 312 officers killed. In 2020, there were a total of 295 police officers killed in the line of duty.

On January 5, the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Patrick Yoes, spoke about the causes of the line of duty deaths as well as the increase.

While the leading causes thus far are related to COVID-19, he notes the felonious increases in violence towards officers as well as the “nationwide crime crisis fueled by rogue prosecutors.” He added:

“At a time when America’s law enforcement is under attack – physically, professionally, rhetorically – we owe it to our more than 364,000 members, the more than 800,000 men and women of law enforcement, and the families of these officers to ensure that the media and the general public are aware of the real and looming dangers the American police officer is facing.

“Despite all of this, the brave men and women of law enforcement will continue to hold the line, stand in between good and evil, and work tirelessly to protect the communities they serve.”

 

 

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About The Author

Scott A. Davis is a 28-year veteran of law enforcement. He served as a Police Sergeant and as a Detective in Pennsylvania. Scott retired from law enforcement in 2020. Prior to his law enforcement career, Scott was an award-winning journalist and recipient of two Keystone Press Awards.

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