DENVER -- A suspect accused of stealing a Denver police car, trying to run over an officer with the vehicle and then leading police on a chase through Littleton, is finally in custody.

Ronald Chrisinger, 42, was arrested after he allegedly crashed the police car along a bike path in Littleton and was found hiding in the bushes, Englewood police said.

The series of events began Thursday at about 9 p.m. when a pickup truck driver crashed his vehicle into a car and then fled. The victim of that hit-and-run followed the driver to a gas station at 4601 S. Santa Fe Drive and called police.

A Denver officer who arrived at the scene arrested Chrisinger on suspicion of driving under the influence. Chrisinger was handcuffed, placed in the rear seat of the patrol car, and fastened in with a seat belt, police said.

But while the officer was interviewing the victim, Chrisinger slipped his handcuffs to the front and climbed behind the wheel of the cruiser.

"He managed to get in the front seat of that Denver police car and attempt to hit police officers with that car, which is a deadly force situation, causing one of the officers to have to fire," said Littleton police Sgt. Sean Dugan.

Investigators say Chrisinger accelerated in reverse, nearly striking a Littleton officer who was at the scene to assist the Denver officer.

That Littleton officer fired a shot, striking the roof of the police car. The suspect then accelerated forward and the Denver officer tried to reach in and turn the ignition off but was dragged several feet and fell, police said.

The Denver officer suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene and released.

Littleton officers chased Chrisinger as he continued to flee south on Santa Fe Drive. When he drove onto the bike path southwest of the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Bowles Avenue, he crashed the vehicle on Platte River Drive and fled on foot, police said.

Officers spotted him minutes later. The wrecked cruiser had to be towed from the scene.

Chrisinger was jailed at the Arapahoe County Detention Center and faces charges of reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, habitual traffic offender, aggravated motor vehicle theft, escape, eluding and driving under the influence.