Undercover agent shot by drug suspects in Peoria

Lisa Halverstadt and Mary Shinn, The Arizona Republic

4/8/2011

Source …..

A special agent of the state Attorney General was shot late Friday while following two cars believed to be involved in a Mexican drug cartel, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

The undercover agent was shot in the shoulder and neck around 4:15 p.m by one of the suspects he was following in the area of 91st Avenue and Mountain View Road in Peoria, DPS Capt. Steve Harrison said.

When the suspects realized they were being followed, they began driving aggressively, Harrison said. The driver of a white pickup truck circled back behind the officer and began ramming the agent’s car. The second car, a gold Chrysler Pacifica, remained in front of the agent. The truck then pulled parallel with agent’s car and the driver shot the agent, Harrison said. The agent was treated and released from the hospital, said Amy Rezzonico, an AG’s spokeswoman.

Harrison said the agent is part of a multi-agency drug task force and that other officers in the area were monitoring him and responded when he was shot.

The driver of the white truck has been arrested, and police were still looking for the occupants of the Pacifica late Friday.

Peoria police and DPS are investigating the shooting.