An officer was attacked and a dramatic crash occurred after police recognized a suspected car thief and tried to take him down at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood.

The incident began when mall security called police Sunday night after guards spotted a man who crashed a stolen car near the mall last week.

When that same man climbed into a stolen Dodge Challenger parked outside the mall, a Lynnwood traffic officer tried to stop him with his gun drawn. 

The driver hit the officer and his police motorcycle, and then drove up over a sidewalk and landscaping into the other cars, police said.

The Challenger pushed a Mini Cooper nearly onto its side and into a second car.

No one was in a Mini Cooper, but police said there was a woman in a white sedan that was also struck in the crash. 

She was shaken up, but unhurt.

The Lynnwood officer was hit by a car and suffered minor knee and leg injuries.

Police were able to quickly arrest the 20-year-old driver of the Challenger who they said was linked to three car thefts.

He also faces charges of vehicular assault and eluding police.