17 suspected illegal immigrants nabbed in search for suspected smugglers who shot Ariz. deputy

17 caught in search for Ariz. deputy’s attackers

PHOENIX — Authorities searching for drug smugglers who shot and wounded an Arizona sheriff’s deputy in the desert south of Phoenix have captured 17 suspected illegal immigrants.

Authorities said Saturday that the group included three who may have been involved in the incident. The search was ended as darkness fell.

Pinal County sheriff’s Lt. Tamatha Villar says the three matched descriptions given by the deputy who was grazed by a bullet fired by a group of about five smugglers Friday afternoon.

Villar says the three weren’t believed to have been the actual shooters.

Several helicopters and several hundred officers from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies spent much of Saturday scouring a 10-square-mile area about 50 miles south of Phoenix.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities searching for drug smugglers who shot and wounded an Arizona sheriff’s deputy in the desert south of Phoenix have captured 17 suspected illegal immigrants.

Authorities said Saturday that the group included three who may have been involved in the incident.

Pinal County sheriff’s Lt. Tamatha Villar says the three matched descriptions given by the sheriff’s deputy who was grazed by a bullet fired by a group of about five smugglers Friday afternoon.

Villar says the three were questioned and weren’t believed to have been the actual shooters.

Several helicopters and several hundred officers from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies spent much of Saturday scouring a 10-square-mile area about 50 miles south of Phoenix.