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Authorities In Newark Investigate Police-Involved Shooting Of Car Theft Suspect

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Essex County officials say they are investigating a police-involved shooting of a 44-year-old man, who was suspected of stealing a car in Newark.

The shooting, which left the suspect critically wounded, occurred at 6:15 p.m. Monday after police used a security tracking device to locate a Volkswagen SUV a woman had reported stolen.

Officials say when an officer confronted the suspect in the vehicle, he drove up onto the sidewalk, striking a female pedestrian and dragging her. They say the officer, a 17-year department veteran, fired his weapon, wounding the suspect.

The 32-year-old woman who was struck by the SUV is hospitalized in stable condition. The suspect is at the same hospital in critical condition. His name was not released.

Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio commended the officer for his "heroic actions."

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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