DOVER -- Two Dover Police officers were injured after allegedly being dragged by a vehicle operated by Christopher Brewer, 28,  early Thursday morning, according to Dover Police Department.

Officers were responding to a loitering/suspicious subject complaint at the Hamlet Shopping Center at 1019 Walker Road, after a store employee stated Mr. Brewer, of the 1400 block of Joshua Clayton Road, was loitering in the parking lot. Mr. Brewer was spotted allegedly throwing trash out of his vehicle window; he refused  to leave the property, according to the police release.

Two Dover Police officers arrived  shortly after 2 a.m.  to find Mr. Brewer reclined in the driver seat of a burgundy-colored Chrysler 200.  The officers believed the suspect was sleeping or under the influence and attempted to wake him by knocking on the window and giving him verbal commands.

According to police, Mr. Brewer suddenly began moving within the vehicle, possibly reaching for an item.  Officers opened the driver side door to take him into custody, but he shut the door on the officers.  The officers then attempted to remove Mr. Brewer from the vehicle once more.

An aerial view of where two officers were dragged by a vehicle. (Submitted/Dover Police Department)

At that time, according to police, Mr. Brewer put the vehicle in reverse and quickly accelerated.  Both officers were dragged across the parking lot; Mr. Brewer then fled after putting the car in drive.  He led other arriving officers on a brief vehicle pursuit that ended after he struck a curb which disabled his vehicle.

Mr. Brewer was arrested in the area of Lakewood Place and Ross Street.  He was charged with first-degree and second-degree vehicular assault; two counts of resisting arrest with force/violence; disregard of police officer signal, two counts of criminal mischief under $1,000; DUI;  leaving the scene of collision resulting in injury; aggressive driving and multiple traffic violations.

Patrolman Anthony D'Errico was treated at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for multiple wounds and abrasions.  Officer D'Errico began his career with the Dover Police Department in 2014.

Patrolman Willie Johnson has been admitted at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for a leg injury.  The patrolman has served with the Dover Police Department for two years.