An Arizona man has been sentenced to 44 years in prison for the 2020 murder of a Tohono O’odham police officer. Carlos Maximilliano Galvan, 44, of Maricopa, was sentenced on June 4, 2025, by United States District Judge James A. Soto after previously pleading guilty to one count of Second-Degree Murder.
The tragic events unfolded on August 27, 2020, when Officer Bryan Brown responded to a 911 call at the Desert Diamond Casino in Why, Arizona. According to reports, Galvan had crashed his vehicle into a handicapped parking sign and subsequently assaulted two casino employees by ramming his vehicle into the truck they occupied.
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Upon Officer Brown’s arrival, he was confronted by an aggressive Galvan, who was brandishing a broken bottle. As Officer Brown attempted to de-escalate the situation by moving around his police cruiser, Galvan seized the opportunity to jump into the vehicle. He then drove the cruiser directly at Officer Brown and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who had arrived to provide assistance. While the Border Patrol Agent was able to get to safety, Galvan struck and killed Officer Brown with his own patrol vehicle.
While fleeing the scene, Galvan continued his rampage, driving the stolen police cruiser across the highway’s center lane and intentionally colliding with the vehicles of two Border Patrol Agents who were responding to the incident.
“The FBI will not waiver in our commitment to ensure those who commit acts of violence against members of law enforcement will be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” stated FBI Phoenix Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarod Brown. “Today is for Officer Bryan Brown, and his loved ones and colleagues. We hope this sentence brings a degree of comfort to Officer Brown’s family and colleagues.”
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United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine echoed these sentiments, saying, “The defendant attacked not just Officer Brown, but our entire system of justice. Disrespect for law enforcement escalates, as it did here with a deadly consequence, which is why any assault on a law enforcement officer cannot be tolerated. Our great sorrow goes out to Officer Brown’s family, loved ones, and fellow officers. He demonstrated the ultimate dedication to duty, and we honor him.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Kreamer Hope, Alicia Renee Quezada, and Rui Wang of the District of Arizona, Tucson.
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