Officer jumps onto driver and clings to moving car in wild pursuit down a Thornbury street

A detective and a protective service officer are in hospital after an arrest at a suspected stolen car turned violent in Thornbury on Friday night.

The two were on patrol at Northland Shopping Centre as part of Operation Pulse — the Victoria Police blitz on retail crime running across major Melbourne shopping centres — when they were told of a shop theft about 7.20pm.

Police followed two men to Hannah Street, where the pair approached a parked car believed to be stolen.

As one man got into the driver's seat, a female detective senior constable moved to arrest him through the open door.

He resisted, and took off — trying to shove the officer out of the car as he went.

At the same moment, the PSO had opened a rear door to speak to a woman in the back seat.

When the car accelerated, he was thrown to the ground and hurt his hand, elbow and shoulder.

The detective's arm was trapped and she could not pull free.

Rather than be dragged along the road, she climbed on top of the driver.

The 30-year-old drove erratically along Murray Road and through Albert and Mansfield streets, the officer still fighting to stop the car, before a collision with a parked vehicle brought it to a halt.

A member of the public helped the detective restrain the man until more police arrived.

The driver, from Bundoora, was taken to hospital under police guard, where he remains.

Both the detective and the PSO were taken to hospital for treatment.

The second man ran from the scene and was still being sought.

Police said he was expected to be interviewed by Darebin Crime Investigation Unit detectives on Saturday morning.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who saw a grey Toyota Corolla sedan being driven erratically in the area, or who has dashcam footage.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.