Submitted by: Donald Hank
Phoenix officer shot by gunman in early morning standoff
Joseph Sandoval
Photographer: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Photographer: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/PD%3A-Phoenix-officer-shot-in-by-gunman-in-early-morning-standoff#ixzz1euaTMEEG
PHOENIX - A gunman who wounded a Phoenix police officer investigating a disturbance at a trailer park early Saturday was finally taken into custody after an hours-long standoff with a SWAT team.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Joseph Sandoval, had been holed up in a trailer since about 1 a.m. and surrendered just before dawn, police spokesman Sgt. Steve Martos said.
SWAT team members had surrounded the trailer at the park about three miles east of downtown after the officer was shot while investigating a trespassing call.
"There are a lot of vacant trailers and sometimes they attract 'riff-raff' from other neighborhoods," said resident Adolfo Reis.
The injured officer was pulled from the line of fire by fellow officers and driven to a hospital by a sergeant, Martos said. His injuries were considered life-threatening, but doctors were able to stabilize his condition in surgery.
He was one of two officers fired at while investigating reports that several people were in a trailer that was supposed to be vacant, Martos said.
Most of the people in the trailer fled as the two officers arrived.
"As they approached the trailer, one officer was met by gunfire and was struck multiple times," Martos told The Associated Press.
The other officer was unhurt but pinned down for more than an hour as "the suspect continued to fire rounds," Martos said.
Eventually, SWAT team officers were able to provide enough cover for the officer to safely withdraw.
No one else was hurt, but a few adults and several children in the park were evacuated as a precaution, Martos said.
"There are adults and children that were evacuated but they are victims too," Martos said. "They were very close to the shots that were fired at officers and around the park."
The injured officer's name wasn't released, but Martos described him as being 30 and with the department for nearly four years.
Martos said Sandoval faces multiple charges of aggravated assault, a weapons violation charge and a felony warrant/parole violation. He said the suspect refused to talk to detectives.
The Arizona Department of Corrections website shows that Sandoval was released from prison two weeks ago after serving four years for weapons violations and theft convictions.
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