Police officer 'severely injured' trying to arrest man in Bristol

A police officer has been severely injured while trying to arrest a man in Bristol.

The Avon and Somerset Police officer suffered severe facial injuries while chasing the 20-year-old suspect on Tuesday evening.

He has been unable to give a full account of what happened and it is not clear whether he was attacked during the incident in Staple Hill.

Officers spotted a suspicious vehicle that drove off at about 7pm. When they approached the car a short time later, the three occupants got out and ran in different directions.

In a statement, the force said: "One of the suspects was seen heading along a footpath off Acacia Road and an officer chased after him.

"While detaining the suspect, the officer has suffered some severe facial injuries.

"He was taken to hospital where he will undergo surgery. He is in a stable condition."

Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The 20-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug. A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

It comes after the death of Pc Andrew Harper on Thursday last week.

The Thames Valley Police officer, 28, was killed near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire while investigating a burglary.

Jed Foster appeared at Reading Crown Court by video-link on Wednesday charged with Pc Harper's murder and the theft of a quad bike from Paul Wallis.

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Jed Foster will stand trial in January accused of murdering Pc Harper

He is yet to enter pleas to the charges, but on Tuesday his lawyer Rob Jacques said Foster "denies any involvement in the horrific murder of Pc Harper".

A trial is scheduled to start on January 20, and is expected to last around three weeks.

On August 10, Pc Gareth Phillips, a West Midlands Police traffic officer, was knocked down and driven over while trying to arrest a suspected car thief in Moseley, Birmingham.

He was seriously injured and suffered a shattered pelvis.

Mubashar Hussain, 29, of no fixed address, has been charged with the attempted murder of Pc Phillips.

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Read more Jed Foster will stand trial in January accused of murdering Pc Harper