DANIA BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A Plantation Police officer had to be rushed to the hospital after shots were fired during a cocaine operation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Dania Beach.
The officer was shot outside of a Bass Pro Shop, at 200 Gulf Stream Way, just after 1 p.m., Friday.
“Today, at about 1:05, there was an arrest operation for a joint investigation between DEA and the Broward Sheriff’s Office,” DEA Agent Anne-Judith Lambert said, “at which time, one of the defendants fired at the deputy, and the deputy returned fire, at which point, both were injured.”
According to BSO and DEA, the officer was shot in the arm. The officer sustained injuries that were deemed not life-threatening and was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in a private vehicle.
The subject was transported to the hospital by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue in unknown condition but is expected to be OK. A second subject was not hurt but was taken into custody.
“Fortunately, no one died. These were non-life-threatening injuries,” Lambert said. “Both were taken to the hospital, and right now, that’s all we have. This was a cocaine investigation, and this was part of the investigation where they were going to make an arrest. They would have never put the public in danger.”
7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene where a white sedan, a white pickup truck and a gray sedan could all be seen with their doors open in the parking lot.
“There were people on the dog dock with their dogs jumping off the dock,” witness Marc Behrens said. “They heard five or six shots. We were getting them out of the park at that time, and then, about five minutes later or so, we had a whole slew of cop cars going down by the Bass Pro Shops.”
Traffic was halted into the busy shopping area, and as of 6 p.m., several store owners said they have not been allowed back into the area, but some stores have reopened.
“Now, everyone can’t get out, and I’m just trying to check out of my hotel,” one man said.
The two subjects involved in the operation will face federal charges.
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