Off duty officer injured during altercation following hit and run

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Galena Park police officer and his girlfriend are in the hospital after being jumped by a group of people.

This happened around 11:00pm last night at the Apartments on Fleming in northeast Houston.

Police say the officer was off-duty and in his personal vehicle when the driver of an Infiniti hit him and took off. The officer followed the driver to the apartments and confronted him.

The driver then called out to his friends who attacked the officer and his girlfriend.

During the fight, the officer's gun fell to the ground and went off. No one was hit.

Police say the attackers then stole the officers weapon and left in an SUV. Other officers spotted the vehicle a short time later in the 12,000 block of the East Freeway. The suspects then ditched the SUV and ran into the woods.

Police recovered the officer's gun, but they were unable to track down the suspects.

The officer and his girlfriend are now both recovering in the hospital with minor injuries.