By Police1 Staff
TEMPE, Ariz. — A Maricopa County sheriff’s deputy was injured in a drive-by shooting Saturday while conducting a traffic stop, AZFamily reported.
The gunman opened fire while driving by the 10-year veteran deputy during a DUI stop, Deputy Joaquin Enriquez said. The deputy was walking back to his cruiser when the incident occurred.
“As far as why, we don’t have a motive or have any suspect information on why this occurred,” Enriquez said. “We do know this person who fired the rounds knew this was law enforcement. The vehicle was activated – red and blue lights – it was a traffic stop, clearly, so he knew what he was doing as he fired at the deputy sheriff.”
The officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the legs and was taken to a local hospital. He was expected to fully recover, but the department was on high-alert.
“The war on cops continues, “ Sheriff Joe Arpaio tweeted.
The war on cops continues, going to see my deputy at the hospital for an update on his condition. Keep him in your thoughts.
— Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) May 7, 2016
“Something is wrong out there and has to be corrected,” he told the news site. “When I say war on cops, I think that’s a good title I give it, that’s what it is – a war on cops.”
Arpaio urged the gunman – who is still at large – to turn himself in.
“We’ve got to get him off the street because if he does this, he can do more,” Arpaio said. “I don’t want to call him a scumbag, a coward but I would like him to surrender, face the music, be a man.”
The identity of the deputy was not released.