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Two men and a teen are still being held today after a policeman was hit by a car during a dramatic high-speed chase.
The officer suffered head injuries after he was knocked down near the McDonald's fast food restaurant in Minster.
As many as 13 patrol cars, a dog unit and helicopter were involved in the pursuit, which started in Broadstairs and ended on a quiet housing estate in Herne Bay.
Officers were alerted at just before 11am yesterday after three televisions were stolen from Staples on the East Kent Retail Park, in Broadstairs.
Two men and a 16-year-old boy have now been arrested on suspicion of injuring a police officer and theft.
They were soon on the tail of a car believed to have fled the store and heading along Canterbury Road West towards Minster.
Five minutes later, an officer on foot is believed to have been hit by the fleeing vehicle near McDonald's at the Tothill Street roundabout.
An ambulance was called to the scene to treat the injured officer, who was said to be conscious and breathing.
He suffered injuries to his head, neck and back and was taken to Margate's QEQM Hospital before being released yesterday.
But the chase continued as the suspects fled down the Thanet Way towards Herne Bay.
The car was eventually stopped in Willow Farm Way, Broomfield, at 11.50am, when two people were arrested.
A third was arrested on foot on the Thanet Way soon after.
In the aftermath, witnesses described the drama that unfolded.
Mother Sarah Browning, 25, who lives in Willow Farm Way, Broomfield, said: "When I came home at 11.45am there were no police cars here but then five minutes later, we heard the helicopter overhead.
"Then there were suddenly about 12 police cars with all the blues and twos going. It was quite a commotion.
"I saw they had two men in custody and a third dressed all in white, who they had in handcuffs and were patting down.
"They put him in the car but I didn't see any policemen with guns.
"A police officer came up and told us the men were on the Thanet Way and turned in here thinking they would be able to get back out again, not knowing it was a dead-end.
"Apparently, one of the police cars went straight over the green rather than going round so it must have been quite serious."
The three arrested and in custody are a 21-year-old man from Harwich, Essex, a 42-year-old man from Bromley and a 16-year-old boy from Coventry.
