One Lakeland police officer suffered a K-9 bite and another a fractured arm during a chase and arrest early this morning.
Around 2:45 a.m., officers responded to a fight involving about 20 people at the Tzadick Apartments at 810 East First Street.
Officers had left the complex a few minutes earlier because of an earlier disturbance and criminal mischief incident.
Three of those involved in the big fight had gotten into a silver 4-door Mitsubishi. When Lt. Ron Bowling tried to approach the car, the driver, later identified as Ryan Young, started pulling out and refused commands to stop, police said.
Officers Kristopher Conner, 26, and Cory Lawson had gotten out of their patrol cars to try and disperse the crowd, most of which had fled west. They heard Bowling tell them to stop the Mitsubishi, but Young turned onto Stella Avenue from the parking lot.
Police said Young accelerated toward the officers in an attempt to hit them. Conner then fired one shot at the car, hitting the hood.
The vehicle turned west onto Memorial Boulevard, and officers gave chase. Speeds reached 100 mph and went into areas of George Jenkins Boulevard and Wabash Avenue, but the pursuit only lasted four minutes, police said.
Police said Young jumped out of the car while it was moving at 1045 N Brunnell Parkway, and the car rolled into a duplex building, causing minor damage to the duplex and a parked car.
Officers then chased Young and caught him a short distance away. But during the pursuit, Officer De'Angelo Anthony was bitten by a police K-9 dog and Officer Connor suffered a fracture to his right arm. The bite was severe, authorities said.
Both officers were taken to Regional Medical Center, where they were treated and released.
Young was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (the car) and aggravated fleeing to elude. The two passengers were questioned and released.
Conner, who has been with the department for a year, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.