A Maricopa County sheriff's deputy was released from the hospital after being injured in a drive-by shooting in Tempe over the weekend, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio says there's now a $20,000 reward being offered to help catch those who are responsible for the shooting.
Tempe police say the shooting happened around 2 a.m.on Saturday near Price Road and University Drive.Bryan Wisda, 31, was working as part of a DUI task force for the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Police say he was walking from a stopped car back to his vehicle when someone opened fire.
Investigators say someone in another vehicle fired several shots and fled the scene. Wisda suffered gunshot wounds in the lower part of his body and was transported to the Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center.
The suspect(s) is still at large, and Arpaio said on Monday that his personal friend is offering a $20,000 reward to help catch those who are responsible for the crime. If need be, he says he can and will ask his friend to increase the reward.
"This is a very difficult investigation," he said outside of the hospital after the deputy was taken home.
He said Wisda still has medical work to undergo. MCSO says his injuries were not life-threatening and he should fully recover. Wisda is a 10-year veteran.
"I call it an ambush," Arpaio said. "The guy driving by, he shoots at an uniformed officer with red lights on, come on, not just two shots, multiple shots."
The suspect vehicle is described as an older silver Cadillac from the 1980s or 1990s.
"Give up, because my deputies and the police are going to defend themselves and I don't want any more law enforcement officers killed or shot," Arpaio said.
MCSO is asking the public for help with this case. Anyone who has any information on the shooting is asking to contact officials at (602) 876-1011.
