Albuquerque
police officer shot by fellow officer during drug bust
By
Joseph J. Kolb
ALBUQUERQUE
(Reuters) - An Albuquerque police officer shot and critically wounded a fellow
officer during an undercover narcotics bust at a fast food franchise parking
lot at around mid-day on Friday, police said.
Police
would not release additional details of the shooting or of the nature of the
officer's injuries.
"Both
officers involved were working in a plain clothes, undercover capacity and have
been with the department for many years," said Albuquerque Police
Department spokeswoman Celina Espinoza said, adding that two suspects were
arrested.
The incident comes after a federal
investigation concluded the police department in the mid-sized U.S. city in New
Mexico used excessive, even deadly, force against passive civilians.
In October of last year, Albuquerque and the
U.S. Justice Department announced an agreement for the city's police department
to undergo reform and be monitored for use of excessive force.
Another police officer was shot during a
traffic stop on Jan. 3. On Dec. 15, an Albuquerque police officer accidentally
shot a bystander when his weapon discharged as he climbed through a window
during a burglary investigation.
The
officer in Friday's underwent surgery at University of New Mexico Hospital,
Espinoza said. A second undercover officer was treated and released from the
hospital with minor injuries. She said she did not know the cause of the
injuries.
Wallace
Anderson, who was inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting, told
broadcaster KOB 4 he saw two unmarked cars pull up.
"They
surrounded this vehicle so it couldn't back up and escape. At that point, the
shots happened and a guy was dragged to the pavement," Anderson said.
(Reporting
by Joseph J. Kolb in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Editing by Robert Birsel)
