PHOENIX — Chandler police arrested a suspect Thursday after he allegedly assaulted an officer with a substance similar to pepper spray.

The officer pulled over a black four-door Honda with two people inside for a traffic stop near Gilbert and Riggs roads.

When the officer asked for the suspect’s license and registration, the suspect sprayed him in the face, authorities said.

The officer was temporarily blinded and had difficulty breathing. He was treated by fire department officials and is recovering, Chandler police said.

The suspect, identified as Frank Zamora, and the passenger fled from the scene, but were later located in Phoenix near Central Avenue and Dobbins Road.

Zamora was arrested and booked into county jail for aggravated assault on an officer, three counts of shoplifting and other charges. Authorities say they were able to connect him to previous shoplifts in Chandler.

According to police, the pair was also involved in a theft from a nearby grocery store right before the alleged assault.

Follow @KTAR923