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WATERBURY, Ct. A Waterbury police officer is recovering after getting shot by friendly fire while responding to a stolen vehicle investigation Tuesday, according to police.
Waterbury officers were in the process of taking a suspect into custody for auto theft when they noticed two SUVs revving their engines and driving at a high speed toward their location, police said. The SUVs, which later turned out to be stolen, crashed into several police units, NBC Connecticut reported.
During the incident, Officer Garrett Pagel, a five-year veteran assigned to the street crimes unit, fired his weapon and struck Officer Charles Mauriello, said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo. Mauriello is a six-year veteran officer assigned to the auto crimes task force, according to the chief.