FLUSHING — An officer in the 109th Precinct shot a man in the elbow when he allegedly fled during a drug bust, police said.
Authorities said at about 5:30 p.m., two plainclothes narcotics officers were conducting a investigation near 137−40 45th Ave. when they confronted 27−year−old Edgar Peralta walking to a car from an apartment building at the address. Police said when they approached Peralta, he fled, leading to a foot chase to nearby Colden Street and Elder Avenue.
One officer, who was not named, warned Peralta and fired a single shot from his pistol, striking Peralta once in the elbow. Peralta was taken to Flushing Hospital in stable condition and was subsequently arrested after police said officers allegedly found more than a dozen bags of cocaine in his 2008 Chevy Cobalt.
Another man, an 18−year−old who was not immediately identified, who was with Peralta, was also arrested. Both face drug possession and distribution charges, police said.
Police said they are currently conducting an investigation into why the officer opened fire on Peralta, who was not found to be armed.
