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Burglary suspects accused of ramming PCSO vehicles, leading to shooting, have been arrested

One of the suspects received two graze wounds to the shoulder and face from the shooting
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PCSO Suspects.jpeg

FLORENCE, AZ — Pinal County deputies were involved in a shooting with burglary suspects early Wednesday morning.

Officials say the incident occurred just before 3 a.m. on E. Desert Hills Road near Florence.

Video in the player below shows authorities searching the area around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday:

Deputies reportedly responded to the call and the suspects started to flee the scene in a vehicle. The suspects then rammed two Pinal County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and one of the deputies fired at the suspects.
PCSO says two suspects left the area and were not located for more than 24 hours.

Authorities say just before 6:45 a.m. Thursday, PCSO dispatch received a call from Phillip Rice, one of the two suspects, saying they were ready to turn themselves in. They had reportedly spent a day and night on the run in the desert.

The other suspect, 61-year-old Michael Anthony, reportedly was hit by two bullets fired by deputies during the initial incident. He was grazed in the shoulder and the face.

PCSO Suspects.jpeg

Both Rice and Anthony were very dehydrated and covered in cholla cactus when located, according to PCSO.

The men will receive medical care before being booked into the Pinal County Jail.