A detective with the Perth Amboy Police Department is recovering from three gunshot wounds to his leg after being shot Wednesday evening during an investigation in Rahway. The detective is listed in stable condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Police say he was wounded while working a joint investigation to track down a suspect in Rahway.

Throughout the day, Union County sheriff’s officers have been along Broad Street marking and measuring bullet holes in cars. Six chalk marks noted bullets found on the ground at the crime scene. There were three bullet holes in a fence post and at least one in a nearby tree - all evidence of a dangerous shootout.

Police tell News 12 New Jersey that at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, officers from Perth Amboy and Rahway were executing an arrest warrant on 20-year-old Angel Santiago, who was wanted for an aggravated assault in Perth Amboy on July 23.

Neighbors say they heard what sounded like over a dozen gunshots.

A woman who did not want to share her identity said, “We were making dinner and there was like a series of pops we thought were fireworks at first and there were like four or five more that sounded like they were in our front yard…We were laying on the kitchen floor, we got up and locked the front door, closed the blinds.”

Police officials say Santiago started firing on police as the officers approached, shooting a detective in the leg. That detective was rushed off to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He has not yet been identified.

Santiago was also wounded and eventually arrested.

Multiple neighbors told News 12 that teens are often selling drugs on the corner and fighting. They say the area is a regular stop for Rahway police patrols. The residents say that they need help.

“We want them to put cameras up on the train wall to keep an eye out, maybe have a policeman stationed on this corner because that stretch of road is always a problem,” the woman stated.

Details of the shooting are now under investigation.

Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba put out a statement, writing, "Our hearts go out to our injured Detective and his family. We are deeply grateful for the courage of our Police Department and will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Police say multiple people are under arrest. Charges are pending.