Officer shoots boy, 15, at drug deal

A Phoenix police officer shot and wounded a 15-year-old boy Friday after the boy pretended to pull out a gun during a drug deal, police said.

Officer Clark Impastato, 36, shot the 15-year-old, who police said was part of a group trying to sell crack cocaine to undercover officers.

The teen, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, has a bullet near his spine but the injury is not life threatening, said Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson. Police gave this account: Six officers were in an unmarked po- lice van near 13th Avenue and Buckeye Road looking for drug activity. About 8 p.m., they contacted Azucena Corrales, 18, and two males, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. The teens told the officers to drive to Cocopah Street to buy drugs.

The suspects gave cocaine to an undercover officer in the van’s front seat. The 15-year-old told police that he reached down to his waist and came up with a hand pointed at the officer and said “I’m gonna kill you,” trying to frighten the officer, Thompson said.

Corrales was booked into a Maricopa County jail for drug possession and using a minor in a drug offense. The 17year-old was held a juvenile facility on conspiracy to sell narcotic drugs.