SEATTLE -- A suspected bank robber was shot after crashing into a patrol car just hours after a bank was robbed a few miles down the road.

Seattle police said they came upon a silver truck with a license plate linked to a bank robbery in Shoreline. Officers also learned the truck was stolen, and called for backup around 5:30 p.m.

"He called for back-up units. Back-up units arrived and they tried to basically box the vehicle in in attempt to take the suspect into custody," said Asst. Chief Nick Metz.

But the driver refused to cooperate and instead rammed into a patrol car at Greenwood Avenue North and Holman Road North, police said. A detective fired four shots, hitting the man in the arm.

Once hit, officers said the man accelerated again, smashing into a nearby SUV, which was carrying a man and his two small children. The three were taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.

Police said no officers were injured.

Investigators said the man is suspected in the Shoreline bank robbery, as well as three others. Officers had been looking for him for the past several days, they said.

Police would not say whether he was armed at the time of Wednesday incident, but witnesses said they heard officers yell for the man to drop his weapon and get out of his truck.

"We, unfortunately, usually have the luxury of deciding where we are able to apprehend somebody," Metz said. "We knew this man had committed several bank robberies. We considered him dangerous. The officers knew they had to take immediate action and to take him into custody."

The suspect was taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries.

The detective who opened fire is a part of the FBI Joint Robbery Task Force, police said. His name has not been released.