A Rossville police officer was struck by his own vehicle early this morning while pursuing a suspect, according to a dispatcher with the Walker County Sheriff’s Department.

The dispatcher said the unidentified officer was answering a suspicious person call near the railroad tracks at West Lake Road around 1 a.m.

The suspect, described as a white male wearing a white shirt and a ball cap, was being pursued on foot by the officer, but managed to get inside the patrol car and run over the officer while attempting to flee.

The dispatcher said the suspect later ditched the officer’s car after crossing the Tennessee state line.

The dispatcher said the suspect is being sought by the Walker County Sheriff’s Department, the Rossville Police Department and the Chattanooga Police Department.

The officer was taken to Erlanger hospital and his injuries appear to be non life-threatening, according to the dispatcher.