Police officer allegedly punched in the head and bitten on the arm in Melbourne’s southeast

Police have freed two men from a van that crashed in St Kilda East after a divvy van was rammed and an officer was allegedly punched and bitten.

A police officer has been hospitalised after he was allegedly punched in the head multiple times and bitten on the arm, when the police vehicle was rammed in Melbourne’s southeast on Saturday morning.

Rowville police responded to earlier reports of a burglary at a commercial premises in Dandenong South about 3am.

The offenders allegedly rammed into the police divisional van when officers arrived at Langley St building.

Police at the scene on Alma Rd after the fleeing van crashed into another car. Picture: Supplied/ Chris Phutully

Police work to free the men trapped in the van after the crash. Picture: Supplied/ Chris Phutully

The men were taken to hospital and remain under police guard. Picture: Supplied/ Chris Phutully

A scuffle between the two male offenders and two police officers occurred, before the duo fled in a Toyota Hiace van.

During the ramming, one of the male constables was allegedly bitten on the arm and punched in the head multiple times. He was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The offender’s vehicle then collided into an Audi A3 vehicle on Alma Road in St Kilda East about 7am.

The offending driver, a 28-Dandenong man, sustained serious injuries. His passenger, a 32-year-old Mornington man, sustained minor injuries.

Both men remained trapped inside the van before being extricated and transported to hospital where they remain under police guard.

The driver of the Audi, a 26-year-old Balwyn man, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Chris Phutully, whose family lives on the corner of the intersection, said he heard a “loud collision” and “groaning” coming from the van.

Mr Phutully described the crash scene as “quite a mess” and said it was lucky no one else was at the intersection at the time.

“The glass went all over the road and into our garden,” he said.

“Had it maybe been an hour or two hours later, somebody might have been hurt, because this is a popular intersection for joggers, people walking by and kids.”

Alma Rd resident Adan Sali said he heard “a big bang” while out doing some gardening.

He said accidents were common at the intersection and was surprised none of them had been fatal in the 30 years he had lived on the road.

“People don’t take any notice of the red lights at the intersection,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.