Police chase through Phoenix suburbs ends with officer’s death
Second officer in critical condition
GILBERT, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - One police officer is dead, a second is in critical condition after a high-speed chase through two counties.
The Gilbert Police Department says it started just after 10 Thursday night in Eloy. Officers say Pinal County Sheriff's deputies were pursuing a truck when the driver opened fire on the deputies.
The pursuit continued into Maricopa County, where investigators say the driver broke through the gates at the Chandler Airport. Officers say the suspect drove onto the runway bringing air traffic to a halt.
After that, police say the suspect got out of his truck and sprinted to a nearby car dealership, where, they say, he stole a different vehicle and tried to escape. Police say it was at that dealership, the driver rammed into two officers.
50-year-old Chandler Officer Christopher Farrar died at the scene. A second unidentified officer from Gilbert suffered a critical head injury. He remains hospitalized. An employee of the car dealership also suffered minor injuries during the incident.
Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered all state flags flown at half-staff to honor Officer Farrar.
Pinal County Sheriff's Deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers traded gunfire with the suspect, but eventually took him into custody. His identity has not yet been released.
Stay with KYMA.com for new details on this developing story as they become available.
