A police sergeant has been hospitalised after being subjected to a brutal bashing at a vehicle stop on the Sunshine Coast, prompting a manhunt for a 39-year-old passenger.
In the second serious assault of an officer in the region in three days, senior police condemned the alleged drug-fuelled attack, which was witnessed by a nine-year-old boy related to the alleged perpetrator.
Queensland police are appealing for public help to find Ashley Dodd who they say seriously assaulted the 49-year-old male officer on a Glass House Mountains road on Christmas Eve.
Dodd allegedly reacted violently after he was asked by the Road Policing Unit officer to get out of the car for a search.
It was then that he tried to flee, allegedly lashing out at the sergeant before punching him in the head, and causing him to fall to the ground, according to a police statement.
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Dodd allegedly jumped onto the officer and continued punching him then told the 24-year-old driver to get out of the vehicle with his nine-year-old son before getting into the car and speeding off.
All three are allegedly related and the driver is assisting police with their inquiries.
The incident follows another alarming bashing of a policeman in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on Friday after he unsuccessfully attempted to stop an attack on him with capsicum spray and a Taser.
Police allege 45-year-old Kevin De Vroom tried to choke the officer before stealing his helmet which had his police-issued body-worn camera attached.
Superintendent Darryl Johnston said the assaults were extremely concerning but he was confident both men would be caught.
"We will go to great lengths to track them down," he told AAP.
"They will be found. We know who they are, and they will face court.
"It's a reminder for all our police officers what they are facing.
"We're seeing more and more of these types of incidents where drugs are a causation of this happening and that's concerning to the community.
"And to expose children to this sort of behaviour I find abhorrent."
Police allege the white 2001 Toyota Camry that Dodd was travelling in was stolen from Glenview a fortnight ago and they are appealing for anyone who has information or who witnessed the incident around 4.45pm on Johnston Road to come forward.
Both injured police officers are resting at home after being treated in hospital for facial and head injuries.
