POLICE are appealing for witnesses and information after an officer was assaulted while making an arrest in Sedgley on Tuesday night (May 8).

The Staffordshire Police officer was waiting in a queue of traffic on Wolverhampton Road at around 5.40pm, when he noticed a green Mercedes being driven erratically.

While attempting to detain the male driver for suspected motoring and drugs offences, the officer was assaulted by the man where he received injuries to his hand and face and was taken to hospital.

The offender then made off in the direction of Hyde Park Crescent while still wearing the handcuffs.

A thorough search of the immediate area with support from the dogs unit proved negative and the offender and a male passenger from the vehicle remain outstanding at this time. A quantity of drugs and a knife were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

The offender was described as a white male, approximately 25 to 30 years old, with short black hair and an Eastern European accent and was wearing a blue Adidas top and light khaki jeans.

Chief Inspector Mark Ward, commander for South Staffordshire local policing team, said: “We take assaults against police officers very seriously and whenever this happens we ensure that officer welfare is paramount.

“Abuse of our officers will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to catch the perpetrator.

“The officer in question is our main priority and he is receiving the appropriate support and welfare from Staffordshire Police.”

Anyone with information which could assist with the investigation should call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident 773 of 8 May.