WATCH: Colorado police officer clings to vehicle during high-speed car chase

Dramatic new video of a police chase in Colorado shows an officer clinging to a vehicle during a high-speed pursuit that began after a routine traffic stop.

The video, filmed over a year ago, was released after the driver, Justin Lamb, was sentenced to 38 years in prison on April 23 for 11 convictions related to an attempted assault on Parker Police Officer Glenna Villers.

The routine traffic stop for expired license plates escalated quickly when police were unaware a wanted man was hiding in the backseat, according to CBS Denver.

Police spotted the vehicle with expired plates and pulled the driver, Kent Scot Williams, over before taking him into custody after a search turned up several driving restraints.

While Villers was speaking with a female passenger she noticed a man, later identified as Lamb, hiding on the floor of the backseat and attempted to talk to the individual. An argument ensued and the man jumped into the driver’s seat to make a getaway.

Lamb was wanted on several felony warrants. One of the identifying features of Lamb is a profanity-laced tattoo on the back of his head mocking police.

The video shows Lamb driving off as Villers grabs on to the vehicle before being dragged as the car reaches speeds of almost 50 km/h swerving through traffic with Lamb trying to pry the officer’s hands off.

CBS Denver reports that Villers hung on for almost a quarter mile before the vehicle went through a fence and down an embankment coming to a stop.

After the vehicle stop Lamb escaped on foot and was later apprehended by a responding Arapahoe County K-9 unit that found Lamb hiding in a tree.

Villers sustained injuries to her leg, hand and eye but was able to return to her job.

After being sentenced Lamb blamed the officer saying she should have let go of the car as he drove off.

“In his efforts to flee from justice, Justin Lamb nearly took the life of a police officer who dedicates her life to keeping our communities safe from dangerous criminals like him,” said District Attorney George Brauchler in a statement. “He has earned every second of this prison sentence. His statements blaming the injured officer and the message he proudly inscribed on his head for all to see should be interpreted as ‘don’t let me be amongst you.’ The court obliged him.”