A Jonesboro police officer is recovering after being injured when his patrol car crashed while he drove a suspect to jail.

Police say the suspect was thrown from the car and tried to run from the scene, but was caught by witnesses.

Police say Officer Justin Thompson had arrested the 19-year-old man at a Jonesboro mall Thursday where he was reportedly intoxicated.

Police say the man slipped out of his handcuffs on the way to jail and Thompson radioed for assistance and was driving with his emergency lights flashing when he struck a manhole cover and lost control. The car struck a curb and skidded into two signs and a telephone wire box before striking a chain-link fence.

Thompson was taken to a hospital where he was treated and later released.