A Brevard County deputy sheriff opened fire on a driver early Saturday during an undercover drug operation after the suspect struck him with a vehicle, officials said.

The passenger of the suspect vehicle, who is not being identified, suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound, according to Sheriff's Office spokesman Tod Goodyear.

He was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center and is expected to recover.

Goodyear said the injured man and Nicholas Lechner, 20, attempted to sell drugs to Deputy Juan Vargas about 1 a.m. in the 5000 block of Friday Road in Cocoa.

Lechner was driving the vehicle when Vargas approached and as other deputies closed in, he tried to flee and hit the deputy.

Vargas responded by opening fire and struck the passenger once.

Goodyear said the undercover deputy was taken to Viera Hospital for treatment and released.

Lechner, of Cocoa, was charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. He is being held at the Brevard County Jail Complex without bond.

More charges are pending, officials said.

Vargas, who was hired in 2005, was placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an investigation, Goodyear said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service