DEA agent struck by car during Ashburn drug sting; suspect in custody

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A federal agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency suffered a head injury and a broken leg after he was struck by a car during a traffic stop in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood.

Officials said DEA agents and task force officers tried to arrest a driver suspected of transporting cocaine at a CITGO gas station near 82nd Street and Kedzie Avenue just before 1 p.m. Sunday.

The suspect drove out of the gas station, hitting an agent who was on foot, along with two other vehicles.

"We heard everybody yelling, 'Get this person, get this person.' The car just fled. He just sped off at a high speed and the officers took a high speed chase after him. We tried to help out on the scene, but we were just told to stay back and come to find out later, it was a DEA agent on the ground," said Quaan Smith, a witness.

DEA officials said shots were fired during the incident. A suspect was taken to the hospital and is in custody. The injured agent, who was assigned to the Chicago field division, is recovering at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The car was found abandoned several blocks away. The DEA said it was recovered with drugs inside.