Oro Valley police say that the man shot during the service of a search warrant was not the suspect they were seeking from a previous traffic stop.
At about 10 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of West Hardy Road and North Northern Ave., authorities said.
It's unknown why the driver was pulled over, but he fled during the stop, entering a nearby residential area, said OVPD spokeswoman, Lt. Kara Riley. The man was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Because of the proximity to Canyon Del Oro High School, school resource officers placed the school under lockdown while the area was searched for approximately 30 minutes.
During the search, the suspect was located in the area of the 9000 block of North Morning View Drive and taken into custody, Riley said.
Evidence found on the suspect and in the vehicle indicated the sale and trafficking of narcotics and led officers to a residence in the area of North Shadow Mountain Drive, for which they obtained a warrant.
During the service of the warrant, another suspect immediately confronted officers with a gun and fired upon them, Riley said.
One officer returned fire, striking the 41-year-old man, who was transported to a local hospital after first aid was rendered at the scene.
No officers were injured during the confrontation, Riley said.
As of last night, the man was still in critical condition.
During the preliminary stages of the investigation, detectives located evidence consistent with drug sales. The investigation is ongoing with charges pending for both suspects, Riley said.
