The incident started about 1:00 in the morning at Wayne Avenue and Asply Street in the Germantown section of the city.
The owner of red Mercedes convertible flagged down A 39th District officer. The owner of the vehicle told the officer that an ex-employee took the car without permission. The owner went on to say he just saw the car at a Hess gas station at Clarissa and Hunting Park.
On the way to the gas station, the officer spotted the car and conducted a traffic stop at Wayne and Aspley. The officer waited for a backup unit to arrive, then approached the vehicle.
Two males and female were inside the car. The driver surrendered his license to the officer.
After a routine check the officer finds that the driver has bench warrants for his arrest, and went back to the vehicle to secure the driver. However, the suspect slammed on the gas.
The vehicle dragged the officer while escaping. The back up officer fired two shots at the fleeing car.
It's no clear if anyone in the car was hit.
The suspect's vehicle was later found abandoned in an apartment complex. Someone apparently walked into the 14th District and told police the red car they were looking for was parked not far from the station. Police responded to that location and located the vehicle.Police do not yet have anyone in custody. Investigators are trying to track down the person pictured on the I.D. given up by the driver.
The injured officer has been treated at Einstein Hospital for head, neck and back injuries, then released.
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