Phoenix Copwatch
Home | Contact

  Original Article

Updated: Undercover narcotics officer uninjured after shooting on Northwest side

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Detectives all across the city are searching for two suspects who tried to kill a DPS officer early this morning, police officials said.

Detectives from the Counter Narcotics Alliance have been investigating a group of drug traffickers for the past 24 hours. The case started with a kidnapping, and the adult victim of that kidnapping has not yet been found, said Capt. Brett Klein, the Tucson Police Department's chief of staff.

While the DPS officer was in a truck conducting surveillance at a house near North Silverbell Road and West Sweetwater Drive, a man surprised him at the window. The man said something to the effect of, I know youre a cop. Then he put a gun to the officers head and pulled the trigger twice, Klein said.

The officer heard two clicks, but the gun didnt fire. Police officials are saying he is lucky to be alive. The officer bailed out of his truck and fired back and he and the man engaged in a gun battle, shooting over and around the truck.

The officer ran into the desert seeking cover and the man took off in his truck.

Police found the truck not too far from the shooting scene around 8:25 a.m. Friday.

Police are not releasing any information about the suspects, but say they are violent and dangerous criminals who are connected to drug trafficking and Thursday's kidnapping.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety officer was working with the Counter Narcotics Alliance at the time of the shooting. The Tucson Police Department is investigating.