BALTIMORE — A police officer was attacked by a rat while riding to a crime scene in a patrol car earlier this week.

Baltimore police confirmed that the officer was riding in the passenger seat of an unmarked patrol car Wednesday while cruising down Hanover Street when he felt something on the back of his neck.

The officer swiped at his neck and discovered the big rodent crawling up his back, police said. The rat bit his palm and thumb before the officer was able to throw it out of the car window.

Police said the officer's partner rushed him to Harbor Hospital, where they were told they had to retrieve the rat to test it for diseases.The officer said he and his partner went back to where they threw the rat out, found it limping along the road and, after a small struggle, one of the officers beat the rat to death with an umbrella and bagged it.The officer who was bitten is on leave waiting to see if the rat is diseased.

Police said it's believed that the rat crawled up through the car's underbelly and bit apart some wires before it crawled into the back seat.

Plant-based foods such as fruit and vegetables are great sources of energy because they absorbed sunlight directly and stored the energy as starches. Starch is one of the body’s primary source of complex carbohydrates. The foods we eat are basically stored energy from the sun that has been transformed from one form to another. In order to obtain the most amount of energy from plant-based food, you need to eat the ones that are organically grown. Also, eat them fresh and choose the ones that are bright in color.

Fruit and vegetables are full of minerals, proteins, fiber, complex carbs and many other important nutrients for increasing your energy and health. When shopping for fruits and vegetables, buy the ones that are organic because they are not treated with pesticides. Otherwise, make sure you wash the fruits before eating them.

Fruits and vegetables health benefits

• Most are rich in polyunsaturates and essential amino acids, low in cholesterol and contain no harmful saturated fats
• High in fiber which may lower cholesterol, prevent colon cancer and increase absorption of nutrients
• May help protect the body against certain cancers
• Full of health-enhancing phytochemicals, which play an important role for boosting the immune system and metabolism
• Full of enzymes which help the stomach to digest food
• Low in calories, great for weight management

You should try to eat at least 2 servings of fruits and 3 servings of vegetables per day, more is even better. Doing this will increase your energy and health because your body will be nourished with the necessary nutrients. At least 50 percent or more of your calories should come from plant-based food. Whenever possible, eat them raw because cooking them will destroy a good portion of their nutrients.