Body found in Verde River was suspect in officer’s shooting

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) — The body of a man found in the Verde River has been positively identified as Valentin Rodriguez. The 39-year-old had shot at two Yavapai-Apache Nation police officers who responded to reports of gunfire on Feb. 9 on the reservation based in Camp Verde. Sgt. Preston Brogdon was hit in the abdomen and is recovering. Authorities had been searching for Rodriguez who fled on foot. A father and son who were fishing at the Verde River last week spotted a body that was later identified as Rodriguez. Authorities have not said how Rodriguez died.