Officer in hospital after suspect escapes police barricade

The 27-year-old senior constable had tracked an allegedly stolen white Honda Civic hatch to a hotel car park in the Melbourne suburb of Nunawading.

Police cordoned off the exits around the hotel and were waiting for the man to return to the car, believed to have been stolen from a home in Ringwood East.

In the early hours of May 23, at 2.40am, the senior constable was setting up a tyre deflation device at the hotel's Springvale Road exit when the man returned to the car.

"As the man drove off from the car park, his vehicle struck the 27-year-old officer," police said.

Police said the senior constable suffered serious, but not life-threatening, upper body injuries and he remains in hospital.

The white Honda was found a short time later abandoned in Vermont, a neighbouring suburb, but the driver was not found.

Police are continuing to search for the man suspected of driving the allegedly stolen car and injuring the officer.

Anyone who witnessed the incident has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au