SUSPECT SOUGHT AFTER LOS ANGELESE OFFICER HIT BY CAR

A Los Angeles Police Department narcotics officer was seriously injured Tuesday when he was apparently struck by a suspect's vehicle during an investigation in Boyle Heights. Authorities held a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss details surrounding the incident.

They say that the officer was injured around 8:30 a.m. near Fourth and Dacotah streets during an LAPD operation. Officers were conducting a narcotics investigation, and shots were fired during the confrontation. They were trying to arrest someone who was allegedly involved in a drug sale. The suspect involved tried to get away in a car and hit the officer.

The officer suffered a head injury and two broken legs and was taken to County-USC Medical Center in critical condition, but his condition was upgraded to serious by late morning. "He has now been upgraded as serious, originally he was critical. We are very pleased to report that he is currently at the hospital receiving additional medical care for injuries sustained as a result of two broken legs and also injuries that he sustained to his head," said LAPD Capt. Rigo Romero.

A lockdown of nearby Roosevelt High School was not related to the case, and there was no danger to students at nearby First Street Elementary School, Romero said. Authorities are now searching for the suspect.