PEORIA, Ariz. - An undercover officer was shot by members of a suspected drug cartel this afternoon, according to The Department of Public Safety.
The shooting occurred just before 4:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the intersection of 91st Avenue and Mountain View Road in Peoria.
The officer is an investigator with the Attorney General's office who had been working with a DPS drug task force. His name was not immediately available.
DPS officials say he was shot in the shoulder and the bullet lodged in his neck. He was treated and released from a local hospital Friday evening and expected to make a full recovery.
The officer had been trailing several cars believed to be part of the drug cartel when the suspects apparently realized they were being followed, said DPS Capt. Steve Harrison.
One of the suspects, driving a white pick-up truck, rammed the undercover officer's car from behind. Then a gold Chrysler Pacifica pulled up next to the officer and at least one shot was fired from it.
That car fled the scene, but the driver of the white pick-up was taken into custody at the scene.
The neighborhood has been blocked off for a full investigation.
The suspects are described as two hispanic males, in a gold Chrystler Pacifica with Arizona plates. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
The DPS drug task force had been watching this particular cartel since December. The group is believed to traffic in cocaine.
