A Pinal County Sheriff's deputy was shot in the stomach Friday by an undocumented immigrant off Interstate 8, according sheriff's officials.



Lt. Tami Villar told 12 News that the search and rescue deputy was investigating a load of marijuana in the desert and was confronted by five suspects. She also said the wounded deputy is expected to survive.



Deputies believe at least two people were armed with long guns and at least one handgun. The deputy, whose name was not released, was patrolling alone in what is considered a high-traffic drug and human-smuggling corridor.



Villar said the deputy radioed dispatch about 4:30 p.m. to say he had been shot off Interstate 8 and Arizona 84, but he could not be found when authorities arrived at the scene.



The deputy was located more than an hour later and taken to the Casa Grande Medical Center for treatment.



His condition was not available.



The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office dispatched a helicopter and members of its SWAT team to Pinal County to assist in the case, said department spokesman Lt. Brian Lee. Lee said at 5:45 p.m. there were reports over the police scanner that suspects were shooting at a police helicopter. Lee did not know which agency was operating the helicopter.



Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was headed to Pinal County to assist in the investigation, Lee said. The Border Patrol has sent agents to assist the Pinal County Sheriff's Office with the investigation, said Mario Escalante, a Border Patrol spokesman assigned to the Tucson sector.



"We are headed out to assist," he said.



Escalante said he had no further details about the shooting.



The nearest Border Patrol station in the area is located in Casa Grande.



Staff writers Craig Harris, Allison Hurtado and Daniel Gonzalez contributed to this report.