Police officer, 27, is seriously injured after being run over by a stolen car

A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 27-year-old police officer with a stolen car in Melbourne's east.

Acting Commander Matthew Baynes said police officers were responding to reports of a stolen car that was spotted in the car park of the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading about 2.20am on Thursday when the incident occurred.

The car, a white Honda civic hatch, was allegedly stolen from outside a property on Langley St in the Ringwood East area at about 1.50am.

A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 27-year-old police officer with a stolen car in Melbourne's east

Police cordoned off the car park before they attempted to arrest two men.

The officer was allegedly struck while he was attempting to set up a tyre deflation device to stop the stolen vehicle.

A 32-year-old Preston man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with theft of motor vehicle and theft of petrol.

He was bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates' Court on November 6.

A 20-year-old Ringwood East man, who is believed to be the driver, was arrested in Ringwood about 4pm on Thursday.

He is currently in custody and the investigation remains ongoing.

Supplied Editorial Man arrested after officer struck by car in Nunawading. Picture: Supplied / Victoria Police Media Unit

The 27-year-old police officer was taken to hospital with serious upper body injuries, where he remains.

Acting Commander Baynes said the two men, who were inside the hotel at the time, exited and one got in the stolen car before police could arrest him.

'A male Senior Constable was setting up a tyre deflation device at the Springvale Rd exit of the car park when a man returned to the stolen car,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

The man proceeded to drive 'erratically through the car park and out, ultimately, onto Springvale Rd,' Mr Baynes said.

'At that time police members were looking to deploy stop sticks and the vehicle has driven erratically and in doing so to try and avoid the stop sticks, has collided and struck one of our members.'

The Honda was discovered abandoned a short time later on Tucker Rd in Vermont.

Mr Baynes said the driver was travelling at 'high speeds' and 'highly erratically' and that the police officer - a senior constable in the eastern region - suffered 'significant injuries,' including 'upper body injuries'.

'After the member was struck, he was then thrown into the air, and then landed heavily. resulting in his injuries,' Mr Baynes said.

'It's a really tragic circumstance.

'He's OK, he's in hospital at the moment with non-life threatening injuries, however significant injuries. It will take some time to recover just for doing his job.'

The other man, a 32-year-old from Preston, who allegedly travelled in the stolen car when it arrived at the hotel, was arrested by police.

'He has been charged with vehicle theft and also an additional theft of petrol,' Mr Baynes said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam, CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.