A
police officer has been seriously injured after being run over by a suspected car thief in Birmingham.
West Midlands Police said the officer is being treated in hospital for head and pelvic injuries.
A 29-year-old man, from Hall Green, on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer and a 24-year-old man has also been arrested for car theft.#BREAKING: We've arrested a 29-year-old man, from Hall Green, on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer. A 24-year-old man has also been arrested for car theft. Our officer is undergoing surgery this evening. Our thoughts are with him and his family. pic.twitter.com/G7KxqqVMEP— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) August 10, 2019
Police said the suspect, who had just stolen a Range Rover from a woman shopper, attacked the officer as he tried to arrest him in Moorcroft Road.
He then stole his patrol car and ran over him as he fled.
They said in a statement: “As he moved in to arrest the man he was violently assaulted and punched to the ground - and then run over by the suspect as he jumped behind the wheel of the Pc’s police patrol vehicle.
“It’s understood the man drove the marked police car for around a mile into Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, where he abandoned the vehicle and tried to steal another car.
“However, he was cornered by police back-up - including armed police - and Tasered before being arrested.”
An eyewitness who was driving down Ladypool Road when the incident unfolded has described seeing “about 40 police officers” apprehend the suspect.
Sohail Razaque told Press Association: “He was sort of almost walking through the crowds, with the officers following - and that’s where they Tasered him and took him down.
“There was about four or five officers on top of him and then about five minutes later, they had him up, and walked him past me and put him in a police car.
“I thought I would be able to carry on driving, but then the police cordon was up so we couldn’t go anywhere for quite a while.”
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: “This is a shocking attack in which a member of our police family has been seriously hurt while trying to detain a crime suspect.
“I’m heading to the hospital now to get an update on his condition and offer whatever support I can to him and his family.
“Attacks on our officers and staff won’t be tolerated and we will always seek the toughest possible criminal justice outcome for offenders.”MORE NEWS... Jeffrey Epstein Dies In Prison Ahead Of Sex Trafficking Trial Prince Andrew Groped Young Woman At Epstein Apartment, Court Documents Allege Here's How The Weather And Power Cut Are Affecting Train Services Today