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Man wanted for shooting New Mexico officer arrested in Phoenix

Elias Buck.png
Posted at 3:39 PM, Jan 14, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-15 00:17:13-05

PHOENIX — A man was arrested early Friday morning in Phoenix for shooting a New Mexico police officer last week after escaping a Colorado jail.

Phoenix police got a tip and arrested 22-year-old Elias Buck at a QuikTrip near 27th and Dunlap avenues. Buck reportedly attempted to run from police at the store but was quickly taken into custody.

Buck was sought in Farmington, New Mexico in the Jan. 7 shooting of Officer Joseph Barreto during a possible DWI investigation. Barreto survived his injuries from the shooting.

"It's really been something to watch here over the last week to see all of the different agencies that wind up coming from long distances, in some cases, to assist us,” said Farmington, New Mexico Police Chief Steve Hebbe. "I never would have thought, in Phoenix, our incident would have played. Someone called in a tip to them. Honestly, in the middle of the night, Phoenix police were out there scrambling to make an arrest on a dangerous guy that had already shot a cop."

The chief added that he was thankful for all of the cooperation that came from several departments in multiple states leading up to the arrest.

Buck had previously escaped on Dec. 27 from a jail in Durango, Colorado after being arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle theft.