A suspected drug dealer was shot by police after he tried to speed away from a traffic stop in his car, dragging one officer with him along the road.

Towon Earl, 29, was hit in the leg not long after officers pulled him over during a suspected drug deal in Columbus, Georgia.

Bodycam footage of the arrest shows officers speaking with Earl, who admits driving on a suspended licenses before suddenly trying to flee.

He starts reversing his 2000 Honda Accord while the door was still open, dragging officer Ryan Vardman along with him. Officers said they could see a handgun inside the car.

Bodycam recordings of the incident were obtained by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Footage recorded by nearby officers shows Vardman being dragged a short distance before managing to clamber inside, where a struggle ensued.

Earl drove the car out of a parking area and onto the road, allegedly hitting another officer along the way, before swerving and ploughs into a nearby building. A gun is visible on the floorboard of his car.