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Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune talks about a shooting involving police and a man who was being pursued by officers on Sept. 20, 2017. Adrian Marsh/azcentral.com

A Phoenix police officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a man who led police on a cross-city pursuit Wednesday night, police said.

The man also was shot and wounded by police in the gunfire, which took place at 44th Street and Thomas Road, said Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.

The incident began on the other side of the city, about 7:40 p.m., when Phoenix police officers stopped a vehicle near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road, Fortune said. 

Police exchanged gunfire at that traffic stop with the person inside the vehicle who then fled the scene, she said.

From there, police pursued the vehicle east through Phoenix, guided by a police helicopter, Fortune said.

The vehicle eventually was disabled when police deployed stop sticks on the road in the area of 44th Street and Thomas, Fortune said

At that point, more gunfire was exchanged between the man and police, who ended up shooting the man, Fortune said. The man also shot one of the Phoenix officers, who was wounded but likely was saved by his protective vest, Fortune said.

A police K9 unit dog also was used at the scene, biting the man, Fortune added.

The officer’s injuries are not considered life-threatening, but he was taken to a hospital, Fortune said. The man, who was not identified, was in police custody at a hospital, where he is in serious condition, Fortune said.

No one else was injured, Fortune said. No further details were available.

The area near 44th Street and Thomas Road was expected to be closed for several hours while police continued investigating, Fortune said.

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