CT Officer Shot in Chest, Saved by Body Armor

A Waterbury, CT, police officer is recovering after being shot in the chest Tuesday afternoon, apparently by a fellow officer. He was saved from serious injury by his body armor.

Waterbury officers were taking a suspect in a stolen vehicle investigation into custody when they noticed two SUVs revving their engines and driving at a high speed towards the officers, police said. The SUVs, which later turned out to be stolen, crashed into several police cars, officers told NBC .

During the incident, Garrett Pagel, a five-year veteran officer assigned to the street crimes unit, fired his weapon and struck another 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.

"The officer was attempting to stop the threat that he was placed in," said Connecticut State Police Sgt. Josef Duva. "The intended target was for him to stop that threat as it was progressing."

Mauriello was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital. He has been released and is recovering at home.

Another officer, Mark Sharoh, who was in one of the vehicles that was rammed suffered a concussion and was able to recover at home, police said.

A total of six suspects are in custody, police said.