Police officer attacked in Te Awamutu

File Photo / NZ Herald

Police are hunting for a man who attacked a Te Awamutu police officer who caught him breaking into a car overnight.

Detective Sergeant Ross Patterson said the officer was called to a report of suspicious activity on Rewi St shortly after midnight.

"On arriving the officer found what appeared to be a man breaking into a car.

"While trying to arrest the offender the officer was seriously assaulted.

"The injured officer has managed to break free from his attacker and raise the alarm and the offender has fled."

Several units were called to the scene, including a police dog which tracked the offender for some distance but eventually lost his trace.

He remains at large and police are still working on identifying him.

The officer was taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Mr Patterson appealed for information saying they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the area of Rewi St early this morning and could help to identify the attacker.

- NZPA