Arrest warrant issued for suspect in shooting of Arizona tribal police officer

PHOENIX – The FBI announced Friday that an arrest warrant has been issued for the man suspected of shooting an Arizona tribal police officer.

The agency also said it was offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the Wednesday night shooting of Yavapai-Apache Police Sgt. Preston Brogdon.

The FBI said Thursday that 39-year-old Valentin Rodriguez was wanted for questioning, but now officials are calling him a suspect in the assault of a federal officer.

Rodriguez is described as a 5-foot, 9-inch Hispanic male who weighs around 160 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anybody with information about his whereabouts was asked to call the FBI in Phoenix at 623-466-1999.

The FBI reward is in addition to $10,000 offered by Yavapai Silent Witness, which takes anonymous tips online or at 800-932-3232.

Brogdon, a five-year veteran of the tribal police force, is expected to undergo several surgeries after being shot in the abdomen in a housing area on the reservation based in Camp Verde.

He was in stable but critical condition Friday, the tribe and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said.

Brogdon’s wife, Bailey, said Friday that she’s been overwhelmed by the support for her husband and family.

“Preston is very strong,” she said in a statement released by the sheriff’s office. “He is physically strong, and he has a sort of stubbornness I think he got from being a Marine. So, I know he will make it through this.”

Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office was coordinating a campaign to raise money for Brogdon’s family to help cover medical expenses, child care and other bills, said sheriff’s office spokeswoman Laura Bauer.

Brogdon is the father of four young children.

“The Brogdons are dealing with enough right now, so if we as a community can take at least this one thing off their plate, we want to do that for them,” Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes said in a statement.

Yavapai Apache Nation Chairman Jon Huey said Friday that the tribe is “heartbroken” about the shooting but grateful for the support and prayers from law enforcement agencies and others across Arizona.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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