Life and legacy of Salt River Police officer Clayton Townsend remembered at Friday night vigil

NEAR SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- People are gathering at the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Friday to remember a police officer who was killed during a traffic stop on Loop 101 on Tuesday.

The officer, identified as Clayton Townsend, is a five-year veteran of the department who left behind a wife and a 10-month-old child.

"He was a very hard worker. He worked as many shifts as he could, especially the extra duties, because he had a new child and he was trying to support his family, and he was doing wonderful work," said Sgt. John Wyatt with Salt River Police. "I had the luxury of seeing some of his cases, and he did a great job."

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Jerry Sanstead, has been released from jail after posting bond.