SURPRISE, Ariz. — A man has been arrested in Surprise following the narcotics-related death of a baby early Sunday morning, according to authorities.
The Surprise Police Department said Roderick Begay, 37, is facing multiple charges in connection to the death of a one-year-old boy after drugs were found in his home.
Police said their investigation began on Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. after officers responded to reports of an unresponsive child. Both police and the Surprise Fire-Medical Department immediately began attempting to save the child's life.
The boy was rushed to the hospital, where staff found the child had narcotics in his system.
Police said the child died several hours later at 2 a.m. on Sept. 3.
Investigators determined narcotics were in the child's home.
Begay facing charges of the following:
- Manslaughter
- Child Abuse
- Endangerment
- Misconduct w/ Weapons, Prohibited Possessor
This is a developing story; additional details will be added as they become available.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.