MCSO deputy service aide charged with child abuse, aggravated assault

PHOENIX — The Goodyear Police Department arrested and charged a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputy service aide with child abuse on Tuesday.

Desmond Brown, a 23-year-old Avondale resident, was also booked for aggravated assault, police said.

On Aug. 25, Goodyear police responded to a call of an observation of a large bruise across the face of a 7-month-old at Sunrise Preschool near Dysart and Thomas roads.

“Protection of children has always been a top priority and I expect our employees to be leaders in this community in keeping children safe,” Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said in a statement on Thursday.

“Any actions in conflict with these expectations will not be tolerated and all people should be held to the same standard of conduct under the law.”

Brown has been placed on administrative leave pending the criminal and internal investigations, Penzone added.

Police neither identified the child’s gender nor the relationship to Brown.

Deputy service aides are not law enforcement officers and do not have the authority to make arrests or carry a weapon.

These non-sworn law enforcement aides respond to lower-level priority calls, which allows sworn deputy sheriffs to respond to higher-priority calls in a more timely manner.

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