Killer of Arizona tribal police officer sentenced to 44 years in federal prison
Jun 9, 2025, 11:01 AM
PHOENIX – The killer of an Arizona tribal police officer was sentenced to 44 years in federal prison last week, authorities announced Monday.
Carlos Maximilliano Galvan of Maricopa commandeered Tohono O’odham Police Officer Bryan Brown’s patrol vehicle and ran Brown over outside a southern Arizona casino nearly five years ago, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Galvan, 44, was sentenced Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder.
Brown was killed on August 27, 2020, after responding to a 911 call about a disturbance at the Desert Diamond Casino in Why, a tribal community about 30 miles north of the Arizona-Mexico border.
How was tribal police officer killed?
When Brown exited his patrol vehicle, Galvan threatened him with a broken bottle. When the tribal police officer stepped aside, Galvan jumped into the cruiser and drove into him, according to prosecutors.
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Before he was taken into custody, Galvan crashed into two Border Patrol vehicles that arrived at the scene to provide assistance.
Brown was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital but did not survive his injuries.
“Our great sorrow goes out to Officer Brown’s family, loved ones and fellow officers,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a press release. “He demonstrated the ultimate dedication to duty, and we honor him.”
