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Officer Injured During Monroeville Incident

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – An officer was injured during an incident Friday afternoon at the Monroeville Mall.

He was not seriously injured, but fell to the ground during a scuffle with a suspect.

According to the Monroeville police chief, heroin and a handgun were both thrown out the window of a car of a drug suspect on the run.

"Unfortunately, one of the side effects of the heroin," said Chief Steve Pascarella, of Monroeville Police. "The cash that goes with the heroin are the crimes that come with it, including the robberies, the burglaries, the thefts and the firearms. It's a dangerous trade."

Police say the drugs and gun thrown out in the back parking lot of the Monroeville Mall where a detective busted up a drug transaction going down around lunchtime Friday.

"We've had continuous problems with hand-to-hand narcotic sales in vehicles throughout the 22 corner, including the mall," said Chief Pascarella.

When a 25-year veteran detective tried to arrest one suspect and get another out of a car, the suspect in custody took off running. That's when the officer was hurt. He twisted his back.

"He did fire his Taser at him, and then he tried to pull him out of the car," Chief Pascarella said. "The person was able to drive off, and he was basically spun to the ground."

The officer was treated at a local hospital and released.

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