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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)
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