A police officer who approached two men in an SUV in Newark was injured when the driver sped off and dragged the officer for a short time.

According to authorities, the incident occurred Wednesday around 9 a.m. when the Newark officer saw an SUV he considered suspicious, so he walked toward the vehicle.

Authorities say the SUV’s driver then accelerated and briefly dragged the officer before driving away.

The vehicle crashed a few blocks away, and both men left the SUV and ran off into a nearby cemetery.

Authorities later learned that the SUV had been stolen.

The officer, whose name was not released, was being treated for knee, neck and chest injuries.

AP wire services helped contribute to this report.