Police officer injured during undercover drug operation

PITTSBURGH — A police officer was injured during a recent undercover drug operation.

"This neighborhood seems to be going downhill pretty fast," said Elliott resident Steve Joseph.

Joseph was happy to hear police are working to clean up the streets, but on Friday, an undercover operation went wrong.

The officer, who had backup, set up a buy-walk.  He planned to buy heroin and keep walking.

When he walked up to the drug dealer's car, three people inside told him to get in.

The officer refused to get in, but he had the money for the transaction.  Police said the dealer snatched the money from him and sped off.  The officer's shoulder was hurt as the car sped off.

Backup officers chased the car down a dead-end street, Janewood.  Three people were taken into custody after a brief struggle.  Ten bundles of heroin were recovered.

The suspects weren't from Elliott.  Two were from the North Side and one was from Oakland.

Police are not releasing the suspects’ names because this is an ongoing investigation.

WPXI