A police officer and a Hamilton resident were injured early today trying to intervene in a crime spree, in which shots were fired.
The officer was thrown from a moving car, when trying to arrest the driver after a high speed chase.
Police began chasing the car after a series burglaries in the east and north of Hamilton in which a silver Subaru Legacy was said to be involved, Senior Sergeant Craig Taylor said.
In one burglary, a gun was fired after a resident struggled with three men trying to take his car, Mr Taylor said. The victim suffered serious head injuries, after he was hit with a weapon.
About 1.15am police saw a car matching the Subaru's description in Hamilton East.
There was a chase, but police pulled out when the car reached speeds of up to 160kmh.
Later police managed to box the Subaru between two patrol cars but as an officer tried to arrest the driver, the car accelerated, crashed into a patrol car, and threw the officer to the ground.
"An ambulance was called and the officer was treated at the scene and he is currently in Waikato Hospital suffering minor to moderate injuries," Mr Taylor said.
When the Subaru, now on three wheels, was forced off the road, its driver attacked three police before being overpowered.
He now faced a variety of charges after being found in possession of methamphetamine.
